Gujarat journalists approach CJI to protect press freedom

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) Around 50 journalists from Gujarat, both from electronic and print media, today approached Chief Justice of India (CJI) K G Balakrishnan seeking his intervention to protect freedom of the press from any attack by the Narendra Modi Government in the BJP-ruled state.

In a representation submitted to the Chief Justice, the journalists brought to the notice of the CJI the May 1 order of the Gujarat police, banning the entry of the media in the premises of Police Bhawan, Gujarat police headquarters, in Gandhinagar.

The journalists were told by the security guards of the police headquarters that their entry had been banned on express instructions of the Director General of Police(DGP) P C Pandey, whose role during 2002 communal riots as Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad was dubious and his elevation to the rank of DGP was challenged in the court.

Such a draconian order was a clear encroachment and attack on freedom of press, they said.

Narendra Modi government is annoyed with the media for fake encounter exposures which have put the BJP government in an awkward situation as it is facing flak for involvement of its senior police officers in fake encounters in which one Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi were murdered and the body of Kausar Bi was burnt in a bid to destroy evidence.

The sole eyewitness to the crime Tulsiram Prajapati was also killed by Gujarat police.

Rubabuddin Sheikh's petition seeking a CBI inquiry into the alleged murder of his brother and sister-in-law has been admitted by the apex court for hearing today.

The Centre is supporting the petition while Gujarat government is opposing the CBI inquiry.

The journalists from Gujarat have prayed to the CJI to intervene to get the freedom of press restored in Gujarat in the interest of democracy and secularism.

UNI