Editors Guild urges Centre, states to provide protection to the journalists threatened with physical violence.
New Delhi: Taking note of the spate of online threats of physical violence and abuse directed at journalists across the country, the Editors Guild of India has issued a statement unequivocally condemning the threats.
The Guild has stated that the spirit of democracy can only be kept alive through a free, fair and independent media. It further said that any attempt to “physically threaten, or verbally abuse and humiliate” those who offer commentary, reportage or analysis can seriously undermine the functioning of our democracy.
“Any difference of opinion should be challenged with another set of views and not by a threat of physical violence, or online calumny,” it has noted in the statement.
The Guild has urged the Centre and the state governments to show a greater sense of urgency to provide protection to the journalists threatened with physical violence. It has also urged to bring to book those issuing such threats.
“The government must initiate quick action on complaints by these victims and bring the guilty to book. There is no room for laxity here,” it stated.