Blaming journalists for violence is reprehensible, sedition charges worse still: Chandigarh Press Club

On 28 January, the Uttar Pradesh Police and Madhya Pradesh Police booked the editors of The Caravan, Paresh Nath, Anant Nath and Vinod K Jose, along with the politician Shashi Tharoor, and the journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Mrinal Pande, for reporting on the death of a farmer during the tractor rally in Delhi on 26 January 2021. The Uttar Pradesh police booked them for sedition, among other offences, while the MP police reportedly registered a case of promoting enmity.

The Chandigarh Press Club has issued a statement condemning the FIRs against journalists and reporters for reporting from the farmers protests and tractor rally that took place on 26 January. The statement in reproduced below.

Chandigarh Press Club condemns filing FIRs against journalists

The Chandigarh Press Club condemns the filing of multiple FIRs against journalists including Mrinal Pande, Rajdeep Sardesai, Zafar Agha, Caravan group editors and publishers, besides others.

FIRs on various criminal grounds, including sedition, were lodged by MP Police, UP Police and in Delhi. FIRs are based on the coverage and comments the journalists made in respect of the farmers protest rally in the capital on January 26, 2021.

The events that took place around the farmers rally on Republic Day were chaotic and information was not easily available. There was clear intelligence lapse on the part of the various central agencies. In these circumstances, to pin blame on the journalists for being responsible for the violence and disruption, is reprehensible. Worse still is the attempt of the Police to stick sedition charges on the journalists using archaic laws.

Various journalist unions, Editors Guild of India and various press clubs across the country, including Press Club of India and Mumbai Press Club, have also condemned filling of FIRs against the journalists.

The Chandigarh Press Club demands the immediate withdrawal of these FIRs against the six journalists.

Saurabh Duggal

Secretary General