Journalists protest burning of media organisation’s effigy Demand apology from Wardhannapet MLA
In Short
Journalists in Warangal staged a protest condemning the burning of a media organisation’s effigy and demanded an apology from Wardhannapet MLA K.R. Nagaraju. The protesters stressed the importance of press freedom and called for protection of journalists.
Share :
Journalists protest burning of media organisation’s effigy Demand apology from Wardhannapet MLA
WARANGAL: Journalists staged a massive protest at the Pochamma Maidan junction here on Wednesday, condemning the burning of an effigy of a media organisation. Wearing black badges, they sat on the road and demanded that Wardhannapet MLA KR Nagaraju apologise for the incident.
Addressing the protesters, Warangal East Journalists’ Association president Narender warned that journalists would not tolerate attempts to suppress voices questioning those in power. He said there was no place for intimidation in journalism.
The protesters strongly condemned the alleged attack by the MLA’s followers on journalists who were raising public issues as part of the Fourth Estate. They demanded that Nagaraju take responsibility for the incident and tender an immediate apology to the journalist community.
Similar incidents occurred four times
Narender alleged that similar incidents had already taken place four times. He said journalists would not remain silent if attempts were made to undermine press freedom and intimidate media personnel.
He stressed that safeguarding media freedom in a democracy was the responsibility of everyone.
Legal avenues available
Journalists’ union leaders said those with objections to news reports had several options, including approaching the concerned media organisation or taking the matter through legal channels. Burning effigies and intimidating journalists, however, was not part of democratic practice, they said.
The protesters demanded that the government take full responsibility for the safety of journalists. They announced that their agitation would continue until MLA K R Nagaraju apologised.
