New Delhi: The Press Club of India has released the press released condemning the raids by Central Bureau of Investigations on NDTV. Senior Journalists gathered at Press Club of India premises termed the raids as an effort to pressurize the media.
In a show of strength, senior journalist like HK Dua, Kuldip Nayar stressed on the need to preserve freedom of press which they described as the strength of the Indian democracy.
Addressing a large gathering of journalists at the Press of Club India in the national capital, noted jurist Fali S. Nariman stated that freedom of press is enshrined in the Constitution of India and condemned the manner in which CBI raided the offices of NDTV.
Veteran journalist and former union minister Arun Shourie expressed sorrow that the journalism fraternity has not "reacted as a community to the throttling of the free flow of information."
Veteran journalist HK Dua recounted the days of the emergency when press freedom was curtailed and stated that the signs were not similar and unless something is done "the fate will be similar."
He lashed out at the Government for letting Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi escape the country but NDTV is raided for a flimsy reason. "This is a warning to all others that if you don't fall in line you will face it."
Thanking the large turnout of journalists in support, Dr. Prannoy Roy of NDTV said the issue was not about NDTV but "a signal to all of us". Senior journalist and chairman India Today group Aroon Purie in a message also expressed solidarity and criticized efforts to intimidate the media.
Eminent journalist and chairman and publisher of The Hindu, N Ram in a message from London said "freedom of expression which has come under pressure must be safeguarded at all cost."