NEW DELHI : January 30 : The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) today appealed to the owners of the Associated Journals, now Young India (publishers of the National Herald etc.), and Mr. Arun Purie of the India Today group (TV and print), not to penalize without probe their employees for any alleged “misreporting and editorial error.” Journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, Anant Nath and Vinod K. Jose had allegedly tweeted, saying that a farmer (Navpreet Singh) had died in the police firing, during the tractor parade in Delhi on January 26.
The IFWJ Secretary General, Mr. Vipin Dhuliya said here today that the Herald and India Today owners should provide an opportunity to these employees to defend themselves before initiating any disciplinary action against them. The IFWJ reminded the proprietors that under various labour laws no legal action can be taken against any workman without due process of law. It also urged the India Today owner to refund wage cut, if any, to Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai, unless found guilty of “misreporting.” He should be brought back to his duty.
About the first information reports (FIRs) filed by the police against these journalists on charges of “ inciting violence,” the IFWJ demanded that adequate legal assistance be provided to them to move the concered courts to quash the FIRs. Under the law an FIR can only be disposed of by the judiciary. The IFWJ reminded all that no citizen of India is above the law.
Vipin Dhuliya
Secretary General IFWJ
