Press Organisations condemn raid on NewsClick

Various organisations, including The Press Club as well as the Editors Guild of India (EGI), slammed the Delhi Police raids on news portal NewsClick and its journalists on Tuesday. Some press organizations even condemned it as an attempt to suppress the freedom of press.

According to the statement issued by the EGI, it said: “These raids are yet another attempt to "muzzle the media”. We remind the government of the importance of an independent media in a functioning democracy and urge it to ensure that the fourth pillar is respected, nurtured and protected."

It added: “While we recognise that the law must take its course if actual offences are involved, the due process has to be followed. The investigation of specific offences must not create a general atmosphere of intimidation under the shadow of draconian laws, or impinge on the freedom of expression and the raising of dissenting and critical voices."

In another post by the Press Club of India (PCI), it said: "We are monitoring the developments and will be releasing a detailed statement. The PCI stands in solidarity with the journalists and demands the government to come out with details." Moreover, a spontaneous protest meeting was held at the PCI against the raids by police.
The Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) also issued a statement saying: "A vibrant democracy will never remain vibrant if the media is not given the space to analyse government policies independently. Elected democracies have a greater responsibility to ensure that the media operates in an unfettered manner. " The IWPC also shared its concern that the media was being repeatedly targeted as they have raised objections to certain policies of the ruling government.

Later on in the day, the Delhi Police arrested Prabir, Founder of NewsClick and Amit Chakravarty, HR Head, after searching more than 30 locations and questioning several journalists in a case filed under the anti-terror law UAPA following allegations the portal received money for pro-China propaganda.
Police sealed NewsClick’s office in Delhi, officials said, adding 46 suspects were questioned and digital devices, including laptops and mobile phones, and documents were taken away for examination.
However, The NewsClick management, said that it has been maintaining that whatever funding it has received was through legal sources and that the evidence of this has been submitted to the Delhi High Court.