New Delhi: CPI Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging widespread harassment and detention of journalists covering protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi, and demanding immediate intervention to stop the police action.
In his letter to Shah, Kumar cited instances involving journalists from mainstream news organisations as well as social media platforms, alleging that they were confined, prevented from reporting, or detained while covering the protests.
“A video showing several detained journalists displaying their identity cards from inside a police detention bus represents the state of press freedom in the national capital,” Kumar said in the letter.
Questioning the police’s insistence that journalists must possess Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation to cover the protests, Kumar said the requirement was untenable and failed to account for changes in the media landscape.
He argued that independent journalists, digital news platforms and social media-based news channels also perform legitimate journalism without PIB accreditation, which cannot be treated as a prerequisite for reporting from public spaces.
The CPI MP also referred to the Supreme Court’s intervention on the issue and concerns raised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, saying these underscored the urgency of ending the restrictions.
“By obstructing independent reporting, the authorities only reinforce the public perception that the government is attempting to conceal police excesses against peaceful protesters,” the letter said.
Kumar urged Shah to issue clear instructions to Delhi Police to stop the alleged harassment, arbitrary detention and obstruction of journalists, ensure their access to areas where they are lawfully discharging their duties, and prohibit discrimination against those lacking PIB accreditation.
He also demanded investigations into instances of alleged unlawful confinement, intimidation and assault, and called for accountability to be fixed.
“The government cannot claim to uphold democracy while using the police to prevent journalists from informing the people,” he said.
