Shimla, May 16
State Unit of Congress Committee today sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur opposing the registration of FIRs against the five journalists in the state .
A press statement issued by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Kuldeep Singh Rathore alleged that multiple FIRs were lodged against five journalists and such cases and action should be condemned. He also demanded to immediately cancel all the FIRs lodged against the journalists. Rathore stated in the memorandum that the booked journalists were performing their duty. He observed that coverage of shortcomings and flaws of administration during the pandemic could not be considered offence if media persons share or print them in Social media, TV or press .
Terming the move of police politically motivated and unfortunate he said that voice of media should not be muzzled as press is the fourthpillar of democracy.
Congress would not tolerate any such move to gag the voices of media persons as the action against them is undemocratic and autocratic in nature. He alleged that freedom of press is under threat and party would resist any such move if the cases were not withdrawn.
If any shortcoming was highlighted by media persons Rahtore observed that Government is expected to improvise mistakes of administration rather than punishing the whistle blowers.
It is worthwhile to mention that ruling party and Government had unleashed action against these media persons on acquisitions of fake news in the state however some glaring breaches of guidelines also came forth during the pandemic and a PIL was also filed in the high court.
Media persons are also blaming the state government for not treating them at par with other #COVIDÂ front-line warriors.Â
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