City journalists’ stir gets huge response

City journalists' stir gets huge response

Chain hunger strike to protest against killing of MiD DAY Investigations Editor J Dey and to demand law for protection of journalists brings several prominent social activists, political leaders and bar members to Council Hall in show of solidarity

City journalists protesting against the murder of MiD DAY Investigations Editor Jyotirmoy Dey and demanding the government enact the Protection of Working Journalists Act evoked a huge response from all sections of society, including politicians and social activists. The chain hunger strike started at 10 am outside the Council Hall with around 100 journalists present. Right from the beginning of the protest, several social and political leaders started visiting the spot. Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal, Congress MLC Mohan Joshi, Ulhas Pawar, Shiv Sena MLC Dr Neelam Gorhe, corporators Gopal Chintal, Mukta Tilak, Prof Vikas Mathkari, RTI activists Vihar Durve, Vivek Velankar, Jugal Rathi, Vijay Kumbhar, Maharashtra and Goa Bar Association president Advocate Harshad Nimbalkar, Pune Bar Association president Advocate Dhananjay Taur were among those present on the occasion and condemned the attack on Dey.

United we stand:u00a0City journalists at the demonstration Pics/Himanshu
Dixit

Au00a0delegation meets Divisional Commissioner Dilip Band with a letter
of demands

Rajpal said, "The government has already made an assurance to look into the matter and as the first citizen of Pune I will also take a keen interest in pursuing the issue." MLC Joshi said, "We have been pursuing the issue with Home Minister R R Patil, but he has not kept his word. We will again push for the act in the upcoming monsoon session of the state assembly." Velankar said, "RTI activists and journalists are working in complementary roles and are consistently raising a voice against injustice, and so they are vulnerable to attacks. The Whistleblower Act is applicable to both, as they are equally insecure. It is the prime duty of the government that it should pass the act and provide proper security measures to both."

Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe.

Congress MLC Mohan Joshi

Advocate Taur said, "Writing fearlessly and without favour is the fundamental right of every citizen as per the constitution because we live in a democratic country. The attack on Dey is an attack on our fundamental rights and democracy." Criticising politicians, senior journalist Chandrakant Dixit said that journalists had been attacked many times in the past, but the police had not even bothered to investigate. "We should continuously follow-up in all cases," he said. A delegation comprising of representatives from MiD DAY and Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) president Umesh Ghongde, general secretary Prasad Kulkarni and other members met Divisional Commissioner Dilip Band and handed him a letter of demands. Band assured the journalists that their demands would be forwarded to the authorities concerned and they would look into the matter.

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