Union Minister for Information, Broadcasting, and Youth and Sports, Anurag Thakur, criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal for the ongoing attacks on journalists in the state. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Thakur stated that there are frequent reports of violent incidents and deadly attacks on journalists in West Bengal, and urged the state government to take action to ensure the safety of journalists.
Thakur also highlighted the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra taking place across the country, noting that West Bengal is the only state where the IEC vans were vandalized. He described this as a conspiracy to hinder the development of the state and emphasized the danger faced by journalists when reporting on such incidents.
Citing a series of attacks on journalists in West Bengal under Banerjee’s administration, Thakur listed specific instances of violence, including attacks during civic elections and the filing of nominations for Panchayat elections. He also mentioned a case in 2013 when three photojournalists were severely beaten during coverage of a feud between political parties.
In response to a question about the policy framework for the protection of journalists, Thakur stated that he has a comprehensive list of attacks involving prominent journalists, but refrained from presenting it in the House. He also criticized the absence of the MP who posed the question during his reply.
Before addressing the issue of journalists’ safety, Thakur reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to protecting all citizens of India. He emphasized that the safety of journalists falls under the jurisdiction of the state government, but noted that the Home Ministry issued an advisory in 2017 directing states to make comprehensive arrangements for the safety of journalists.
Thakur also mentioned the recent incident of a TMC MP mimicking the Vice-President and Chairman, describing it as shameful and calling for an apology from the entire Opposition. He also questioned the credibility of press freedom indexes and reports, stating that no such organization has approached him or the media for input.
Finally, Thakur highlighted the role of the Press Council of India in addressing violence against journalists and emphasized the autonomy of the institution while also noting that the Central government can take action if necessary.
