Opening Doorz

By Prachi Mankani |Opening Doorz Editorial | October 06, 2023

NewsClick Arrests: Mumbai Press Club Protest

‘Free Media Will Win’, ‘Criticism Is Not A Crime’, ‘Free The Press’, ‘End Emergency Raj’’ ‘Stop Confiscating our Laptops and Phones’. These were some of the banners that were raised yesterday evening by members of the Mumbai Press Club who had gathered to stage a peaceful protest against the wrongs inflicted upon the reporters of NewsClick. 

Various media organizations, including Mumbai Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, TV Journalists Association, Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists, Bombay News Photographers Association, and Mantralaya Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh, among others, expressed deep concern regarding the ongoing events in the Delhi-NCR region where raids were conducted. Phones and laptops of journalists were confiscated in connection with the probe into the alleged foreign funding.

Addressing the gathering, prominent journalists expressed solidarity with NewsClick and condemned what they saw as an attempt to stifle freedom of the press. They emphasized the critical role of free and independent media in a democratic society.

NewsClick Arrests: ‘Journalism is Not A Crime’.

Representatives from various media organizations delivered speeches highlighting the importance of upholding the principles of a democratic society, which includes safeguarding the freedom of the press. They urged the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of intimidation or arrest. They pressed for an unbiased investigation of the allegation and called upon the Delhi Police to desist from what is perceived as a targeted harassment campaign against these journalists. 

The Delhi Police have arrested Prabir Purkayastha, founder and Editor-in-Chief of NewsClick, and Amit Chakraborty, Human Resources head of the news portal.

The club’s charged atmosphere reflected a shared concern about the challenges journalists face in seeking the truth. It was heartening to witness people from all walks of life and diverse age groups, including students, teachers, and ex-journalists, coming together in a show of solidarity. 

A similar protest was demonstrated at the Press Club of India in Delhi on Wednesday, to show solidarity for press freedom and voice their protest against the police action. 

Ending on a resilient and determined note, the protest echoed a united demand for justice, transparency, and a reaffirmed dedication to protecting the integrity of journalism in challenging circumstances.

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