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The Wire
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
'Criminalising journalism': Editors Guild Says It is Deeply Disturbed Over FIR Against Ajit Anjum
The FIR was registered on July 13 at the Ballia police station. New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India has said in a statement that it is deeply disturbed by the filing of an FIR against veteran Ajit Anjum for his reporting in Bihar. The FIR was registered on July 13 at the Ballia police station in connection to a video on his YouTube channel on July 12, in which Anjum had alleged large-scale irregularities in the voter list in the Sahebpur Kamal assembly constituency. 'Following this visit, Mr. Anjum's coverage highlighted several alleged irregularities in the revision process. He has now been accused of interfering with the electoral roll revision, provoking communal discord, and spreading misinformation. Based on a complaint by an election official, Mr. Anjum has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951,' said the Editors Guild Statement dated Wednesday (July 16). The Editors Guild Statement on the FIR against journalist Ajit Anjum. The video on Anjum's YouTube channel had showed how the special intensive revision (SIR) process was being undertaken in Balia and claimed that many voter forms were being filled and uploaded without the Election Commission's required documents or photographs. 'The Editors Guild does not seek to defend or refute the contents of Shri Anjum's reportage. However, the registration of an FIR for what appears to be a legitimate journalistic exercise seems excessive. Administrators have various means to counter or clarify a media report if they so choose. Criminalising journalism and invoking serious legal provisions against journalists should not be among them,' said the Editors Guild in the statement. 'The Editors Guild hopes that better sense will prevail and that journalists – including Mr. Anjum – will not face impediments in the discharge of their professional duties. All stakeholders must work to safeguard and promote journalism that is both responsible and truthful,' the statement added. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Scroll.in
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
‘Deeply disturbed': Editors Guild condemns FIR against journalist Ajit Anjum
The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday condemned the first information report filed against journalist Ajit Anjum for allegedly interfering in the Bihar voter roll revision process and provoking communal discord. In a statement, the press body noted that the action against Anjum for a 'legitimate journalistic exercise seems excessive'. The Editors Guild is 'deeply disturbed' by the FIR, it added. Anjum was booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the 1951 Representation of Peoples Act after he visited a polling booth in Bihar's Ballia on Saturday. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Anjum had claimed that he had found irregularities in the revision of the electoral rolls in the state, with several enumeration forms at the booth not having photos of the applicants and others that had been partially filled or did not have signatures. Anjum's YouTube channel has 75 lakh subscribers. On Wednesday, the Editors Guild of India stated that the administration has several means to counter or clarify a media report. 'Criminalising journalism and invoking serious legal provisions against journalists should not be among them,' it added. The press body said it hoped that journalists, including Anjum, would not 'face impediments in discharge of their professional duties'. 'All stakeholders must work to safeguard and promote journalism that is both responsible and truthful,' it added. On Monday, the Digipub News India Foundation, an association of independent digital news organisations and journalists, stated that the FIR against Anjum was a direct assault on independent journalism. The 'vague allegations' against the journalist were neither credible nor a reason enough for an FIR, the news association added. 'Instead of addressing those legitimate questions, the Election Commission, through this FIR, has attempted to intimidate not just him but all independent journalists who dare to report from the ground,' stated the foundation. The revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar was announced by the Election Commission on June 24. As part of the exercise, persons whose names were not on the 2003 voter list will need to submit proof of eligibility to vote. This means that 2.9 crore out of the state's 7.8 crore voters – or about 37% of the electors – have to submit documentary evidence. The Opposition parties have alleged that the special intensive revision of electoral rolls risked disenfranchising more than 2.5 crore voters, as they may not be able to produce the necessary documents. Anjum was booked under sections pertaining to criminal trespass, disobeying a lawful order, preventing a public servant from doing their duty and hurting religious sentiments. The FIR against the journalist was filed based on a complaint by a booth-level officer named Mohammed Ansrarul Haque. The Begusarai district administration alleged that Anjum, his associates and a cameraperson had made unauthorised videos of the voter roll revision process. Anjum claimed on Monday that a Muslim block-level officer was 'being used as a scapegoat ' against him. 'Instead of addressing the questions raised in the video, the administration is resorting to intimidation tactics,' Anjum said on social media. 'All I am saying is that I'm right here in Begusarai. If needed, I will fight up to the Supreme Court. I won't be scared.'
Scroll.in
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
‘Deeply concerned': Editors Guild on Centre's order to block ‘4 PM News' YouTube channel
Expressing concern about the Union government ordering the blocking of the digital news outlet 4 PM's YouTube channel, the Editors Guild of India on Thursday demanded a 'transparent and accountable mechanism' for the takedown of journalistic content. The press association said that it was 'deeply concerned' by the government's directive to block access to 4PM News ' YouTube channel on grounds of national security or public order 'without any disclosure of the specific reasons or evidence, and without following principles of natural justice'. 'National security cannot become a pretext to silence critical voices or independent reporting,' it added. On Tuesday, YouTube said that the channel of 4 PM News was 'unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order'. The YouTube channel had about 7.3 million subscribers. It was not clear what led the government to order the blocking of the channel. Sanjay Sharma, the editor-in-chief of 4 PM News, claimed that the ban was an attempt to ' crush a strong voice of democracy in the name of national security'. The channel had uploaded several videos criticising the Narendra Modi-led Union government after the Pahalgam terror attack, Newslaundry reported. 'Increasing curbs on free speech' On Thursday, the Editors Guild described the government order to block the YouTube channel as an 'opaque use of executive power'. The blocking was in line with a 'troubling pattern the guild has flagged earlier – of increasing curbs on free speech through non-transparent processes', said the press body. It flagged the example of the Union government blocking the Tamil news website Vikatan in February. The website was blocked after it published on February 10 a cartoon in the digital magazine Vikatan Plus depicting Modi with his hands and legs chained, sitting across from United States President Donald Trump. This had come against the backdrop of the US deporting several Indians as part of Trump's wider crackdown on undocumented migrants. The Editors Guild said that the Vikatan website was blocked 'without warning or due process'. 'Although the Madras High Court later ordered interim relief, the case reflected the government's growing tendency to suppress journalistic expression through opaque executive orders,' it added.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Data protection Act puts journalism in danger'
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 will rob journalists of their basic right to report and publish if the Act is opertionalised, said Anjali Bharadwaj, Amruth Johri and Rakesh Dubbudu of the National Campaign for People's Right to Information. Addressing a consultation campaign organized in association with Press Cub Hyderabad here on Saturday, they explained the dangers that lie ahead for journalistic community in free expression of the issues concerning the society. As per the Act, the journalists cannot collect personal information and even if they collect they cannot disseminate the same in any form without the consent of the people whose personal information is collected. The new Act doesn't exempt journalists though the earlier drafts of the Act exempted the journalists from this purview. They said any violation of the Act would lead to fines up to ₹500 crore. Moreover, only the government has the right to exempt any organization. There is a fear that media organisations and independent journalists questioning government acts can be terrorized while media houses supporting government narratives can be exempted from the violations. They also explained that the Editors Guild wrote to the Central government expressing their reservations over certain sections of the Act but the government has not responded so far. The Opposition Parties also sent a letter to the Ministry with 130 MPs signing the letter on this 'draconian law' but the government is silent. The danger is not only for journalists but also people involved in the Right to Information Act as their activities will be hampered due to the stringent sections preventing seeking of personal information of the officers concerned. Press Club Hyderabad General Secretary R. Ravikanth Reddy, Vice President C. Vanaja, EC members V. Bapu Rao, Padmavathi and Tigulla Srinivas and senior journalists were present.
