CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar has written to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding intervention over the alleged harassment and detention of journalists covering protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on October 10.
His appeal on Monday added to criticism from press organisations and international media watchdogs, as journalists reported were detained despite displaying their identity cards.
“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 his letter to Shah on Monday.
He questioned police insistence on Press Information Bureau (PIB) accreditation, arguing that independent journalists and digital news organisations could not be barred from reporting because they lacked it.
“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 sought investigations into alleged unlawful confinement, intimidation and assault, and instructions to Delhi Police to stop obstructing journalists.
“The government cannot claim to uphold democracy while using the police to prevent journalists from informing the people,” he said.
Press cards, cameras and police action on October 10
Earlier, BBC journalist Jugal Purohit shared visuals purportedly showing Rapid Action Force personnel obstructing his coverage. He alleged that personnel blew whistles near microphones to disrupt recordings and raised shields between cameras and protesters to block filming.
Peek TV alleged that its journalists Sara Khan and Vedanta Agarwal were dragged and detained by Delhi Police at Connaught Place despite showing their press cards.
Business Standard journalist Anushka Bhardwaj told Scroll that police dragged her by her clothes before detaining her.
Journalist Sreenivasan Jain shared footage of a woman reporter being forced into a police van on Sunday, saying officers detained her despite being shown her press identification.
“This despite her and us repeatedly telling the police that she’s with the media, and showing her badge,” Jain said on Sunday.
The Indian Express reported that three of its journalists, Shashwat, Siya and Vijay, were detained while covering protests at Connaught Place despite showing their press cards. They were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium and subsequently released.
The Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists and Kerala Union of Working Journalists’ Delhi unit also issued a joint statement condemning the detentions.
“Press freedom in India cannot be conditional on PIB accreditation,” they said.
‘Journalism is not a crime’
DIGIPUB News India Foundation, which represents independent digital news organisations and journalists, condemned the police action.
“Journalism is not a crime, and neither is protest,” it said. “The order is clear. The response on the ground has been the opposite.”
Reporters Without Borders also criticised the detentions, saying: “Covering events of public interest is not a crime.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Delhi Police to honour the government’s assurance to the Supreme Court and “refrain from targeting journalists covering the protests”.
Ahead of the weekend demonstrations, the Editors Guild of India had called for clear instructions to security personnel to protect journalists and prevent coercion or violence against them.
The Indian Youth Congress also demanded an impartial investigation into alleged assaults and detentions of journalists.
Its legal cell raised the issue in the Delhi High Court on Monday, where the court gave police until Tuesday to respond to IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib’s plea for permission to protest at Jantar Mantar.
At Sunday’s Supreme Court hearing, the Centre assured the bench that journalists and lawyers would not be obstructed while carrying out their duties.
The court’s interim directions stated: “Lawyers, journalists and other professionals shall not be hindered in discharge of their professional duties in any manner whatsoever.”