National   

Journalists take out rallies in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Journalists in Ahmedabad and in various other cities and towns in Gujarat on Saturday took out rallies in protest against Friday’s attack on their colleagues by followers of Sant Asaram Bapu, whose ashram here is under the scanner following the mysterious deaths of two boys a fortnight ago.

At least half-a-dozen journalists and cameramen of the electronic media were thrashed when they were filming a public protest against the Bapu during “Guru Purnima” celebrations.

In Ahmedabad, more than 200 journalists and cameramen took out a rally from the Sabarmati police station to the ashram at Motera, shouting anti-Bapu and anti-police slogans. Thousands of residents also joined the rally.

Sensing trouble, the police, posted at the ashram since Friday, stropped the rally and refused permission for the journalists to proceed further. Following a minor scuffle — as some of the rallyists tried to break the police barricade — the journalists courted arrest. They were later released.

The mutilated bodies of Deepesh (11) and Abhishek Vaghela (12), cousins and students of the Gurukul school run by the Ashram on its premises, were recovered on July 5 from the Sabarmati river behind the Ashram. The police initially tried to record the deaths as accidental, caused by drowning. But the father of one of the boys alleged that the children were offered as “sacrifice.”

Special Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

The News Broadcasters Association condemned the attack on journalists and cameraperson.

Voicing concern over the growing violence against journalists and media organisations, NBA president G. Krishnan said in a statement there could be no acceptable reason for such attacks which amounted to violation of the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression.

The NBA urged the Gujarat Chief Minister and Home Minister to ensure that journalists were allowed to perform their duties freely and fearlessly. It demanded action against the culprits.

In a related statement, The Indian Newspaper Society expressed its anguish over the attacks on the office of Andhra Jyothi newspaper by some miscreants. Describing such attacks as a serious threat to press freedom, the INS urged the Andhra Pradesh government to take appropriate steps to protect the employees and establishments of the newspaper.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

‘Strategic nuclear programme will be pursued’
Planning Commission may give funds for Bharatpur birds
Journalists take out rallies in Gujarat
One of the worst attacks on the Army since 2005
Call to strengthen criminal justice system
Rajasthan Govt. gets more power in running of State universities
Put off negotiations on IAEA deal: BJP
Bengal Congress leader quits, floats new party
Crucial talks
PMK issues whip to party MPs
Annexure-less IT returns
China adopts persuasive measures to make people quit smoking

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu