FIR against journalist raises questions on media freedom: K’taka BJP on Ganesh processions row
Bengaluru, Sep 18 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Friday criticised the state government over the registration of an FIR against a journalist who recorded and reported controversial remarks made by the T. Narasipur police inspector regarding the Ganesh procession.
Ashoka said the incident had once again exposed what he described as the Congress government’s “anti-Constitutional and anti-Hindu” mindset.
He explained that a local media representative had been called to the police station to report the peace meeting, following which the video of the meeting was broadcast. “Now, an FIR has been registered against the journalist who made the video. What kind of justice is this?” Ashoka asked, seeking an explanation from Home Minister Priyank Kharge.
Ashoka questioned the basis for registering an FIR against the journalist when the Congress government had defended the police officer’s statement as correct and legally valid. “The journalist recorded and broadcast what was said at the meeting. If the police officer’s statement was correct and legal, on what basis has an FIR been registered against the journalist who reported it?” he asked.
He alleged that the FIR amounted to an attempt to silence the media and questioned whether journalists could freely report statements made by government officials. “This is not merely an issue concerning one journalist. It is a question of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Where is media freedom? Where is the right to question? Where is the freedom to report the actions of the government? Is this an Emergency-era situation?” Ashoka said.
The BJP leader also criticised the government’s handling of Ganesh festival celebrations, alleging that restrictions were being imposed on Hindus seeking to celebrate their festivals. He questioned whether people should be required to obtain multiple permissions from the government, officials and police to celebrate their festivals.
Ashoka also referred to the recent controversy surrounding former minister B. Nagendra and alleged that the Congress government had earlier raised caste-related issues when he demanded Nagendra’s resignation. He questioned the registration of a case against a Dalit journalist in the present matter. “Does the Congress, which tries to gain political mileage in the name of Dalits, not see the freedom of expression of a Dalit journalist?” he asked.
Ashoka said he would stand with journalists if media freedom was affected or if attempts were made to suppress questioning voices through FIRs. Addressing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, he said the law should be equal for everyone and that if the journalist had committed an offence, an investigation should be conducted according to law. “But making a journalist an accused merely for recording and reporting the statement of an official is extremely dangerous for the health of democracy,” he said.
He demanded that the state government conduct a transparent investigation into the case and publicly explain the basis on which the FIR was registered.
The controversy followed remarks made by T. Narasipur Inspector Dhananjaya during a peace meeting with Ganeshotsava organisers. In the video, the inspector advised organisers to follow the approved procession route and warned against taking the procession near a mosque and bursting firecrackers there. Police officials have maintained that traditional procession routes remain open and that organisers were only asked to inform authorities about the route and follow safety and law-and-order requirements.
Following the controversy, BJP leaders led by LoP R. Ashoka staged a large-scale protest in front of the T. Narasipur police station, after which the Congress government allowed the procession in front of the mosque in the town.
–IANS
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