FIR against Newz Radar assault on press freedom, says Himachal Union of Journalists
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Threatens of statewide protest if not withdrawn immediately
MANDI: The Himachal Pradesh Union of Journalists has condemned the filing of an FIR against the Dharamshala-based digital news platform The Newz Radar for publishing an analytical report on the Haryana election results.
The union has termed the action as an infringement on media freedom and demanded its immediate revocation, warning that failure to do so could lead to escalated tensions between the government and the media fraternity.
Also Read: https://thenewzradar.com/fir-on-media-sukhu-govt-resorting-to-dictatorship-to-mask-failures-says-jairam-thakur/
Union slams FIR as ‘immature, illegal’
In a joint statement, union president Birbal Sharma, general secretary Kuldeep Chandel, senior vice-president Balbir Singh Thakur, treasurer and national secretary Aadeep Soni, alongside other senior officials, criticised the state government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for what they described as a “reckless” and “unconstitutional” move. The leaders demanded that the FIR be revoked with immediate effect, expressing their concerns about the message it sends regarding the government’s approach towards press freedom.
“By initiating this FIR, the Congress-led government in Himachal Pradesh has sent a negative signal about its responsibilities toward the media,” the statement said. “Despite completing two years in office and presenting two state budgets, the Chief Minister has failed to address key issues concerning the press, such as pensions for senior journalists, simplifying accreditation rules or establishing welfare funds for the media.”
Violation of Supreme Court order
The union further pointed out that the government’s actions contradict recent rulings by the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court has clearly ruled that criticising the government does not constitute contempt. However, the government’s advisers seem to have ignored this ruling entirely,” they said. The FIR was reportedly filed after The Newz Radar published a report suggesting that incidents in Himachal Pradesh may have impacted Haryana’s electoral results.
Attack on democracy’s fourth pillar
The union labelled the FIR as a direct attack on the fourth pillar of democracy, warning that it could have far-reaching consequences if not resolved immediately. “This move will not be tolerated. If necessary, media professionals across the state are prepared to take to the streets in protest,” the union added.
The union has urged the state government to adopt a more harmonious stance. “If the government believes the news report contains inaccuracies, it should issue a rebuttal or clarify its position. However, targeting the media with legal action sends the wrong message,” they stated, adding that the “adviser who recommended this course of action is neither aligned with the government’s interests nor concerned about its long-term well-being”.
To avoid further conflict, the union called for the immediate withdrawal of the FIR before the situation deteriorated into a full-blown confrontation between the government and the media.
