National Union of Journalists stands by Newz Radar, demands withdrawal of FIR
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MANDI: Ras Bihari, the president of National Union of Journalists (India) and his team members have strongly criticised the filing of an FIR in Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla against The Newz Radar, a digital news portal based in Dharamshala.
In a statement, Ras Bihari and his team, including general secretary Pradeep Tiwari, national executive member Joginder Dev, state president Ranesh Rana, general secretary Kishore Thakur and organization secretary Gopal Dutt Sharma, described the government’s action as “unfortunate” and claimed it signalled a “growing desperation within the current administration”.
“The government is stooping to new lows, filing cases against journalists who dare to highlight its failures. This attempt to intimidate the media is clear evidence of their frustration,” said Bihari.
Targeting of Executive Editor draws sharp reaction
Bihari expressed deep concern over the FIR filed against The Newz Radar’s Executive Editor Sunil Chaddha, allegedly at the behest of the Chief Minister’s close aides. “This is a direct attack on press freedom. The media, which plays the role of an unofficial opposition in a democracy, is being strangled under this administration,” he said.
He further emphasised that the government’s crackdown on the press was a “dangerous precedent”. “After failing on all fronts, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government is now focused on silencing journalists. Instead of addressing its shortcomings, it has resorted to legal harassment,” he said.
The NUJ president went on to criticise the Congress government, stating that its incompetence had become widely apparent. “How can the Chief Minister expect the media to only publish favourable reports. That’s never going to happen. If the government refuses to work and keeps misleading the public, journalists are under no obligation to justify its lies.
This dictatorship won’t stand – people from all walks of life will raise their voices against these injustices. The government cannot suppress the truth through lawsuits,” he asserted.
Dr Ranesh Rana, the state president of NUJ, has also condemned the FIR, labeling it as “childish” and “illegal.” Rana called on the Chief Minister to revoke the FIR immediately, warning that the move sets a negative precedent regarding the government’s responsibility toward the press.
“Despite two years in office and two budgets, the Sukhu government has done nothing for the media. There have been no announcements for pensions for senior journalists, no simplification of accreditation rules, no establishment of welfare funds and no support for press clubs,” Rana said. “Instead, the government is now filing FIRs against the very people who bring the truth to the public.”
Supreme Court’s ruling ignored
Rana also pointed out that the Supreme Court had recently made it clear that criticising the government was not contempt. “Despite this, an FIR was filed against a news report that highlighted how events in Haryana could impact Himachal Pradesh. This is a blatant attack on the fourth pillar of democracy,” he said.
The Union warned that if the FIR was not withdrawn, journalists across the state may be forced to take to the streets in protest. They called on the government to foster a more cooperative relationship with the media, stressing that FIRs were not the way to handle criticism.
