The Mumbai Press Club on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on journalists and media personnel who were carrying out their professional duties while covering the protest at in New Delhi and termed it a “direct assault on the freedom of the press”.
“This incident is deeply disturbing and constitutes a direct assault on the freedom of the press, a cornerstone of every democratic society. Journalists have a fundamental responsibility to report events impartially, inform the public, and uphold transparency. Any attempt to intimidate, assault, or obstruct in the discharge of their duties is unacceptable and undermines the public’s right to access information,” the Mumbai Press Club wrote in a post on X.
“It is the collective responsibility of the authorities, law enforcement agencies, and organisers of public gatherings to ensure that media personnel can perform their work freely, safely, and without fear of violence or intimidation,” the post added.
‘Attack On Journalists Is Attack On Democratic Values’
The Mumbai Press Club further urged the concerned authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident. They also demanded that the authorities must identify those responsible and take appropriate legal action against the perpetrators.
“Accountability in such cases is essential to reinforce public confidence in the rule of law and to safeguard press freedom,” the body said in its post, adding, “A free and independent press is an indispensable pillar of democracy. Any attack on journalists is an attack on democratic values and the people’s right to know. Such acts must be condemned unequivocally and dealt with firmly.”