A huge protest demonstration and a rally was organised today at Jantar Mantar of New Delhi demanding justice for the late journalist Jagendra Singh, who was burnt alive by an Inspector of Police in Shahjahanpur at the instance of a minister Ram Murti Singh Verma in the Akhilesh Yadav Government. Journalists, Trade Unionists, artists, playwrights, bloggers and university teachers assembled in the scorching heat to condemn the brutal murder of Jagendra Singh. Speaker after speaker denounced the lawless government of Uttar Pradesh, which is shamelessly harbouring the goondas. Those who raise their voice against the anti-social elements and the rampant corruption, prevailing in the present government of Uttar Pradesh, they are attacked and murdered and go scot-free because they enjoy the patronage of the leadership of the State.
Journalists cutting across all unions, political leanings and ideologies decided to wage struggle if the criminals are not brought to book in a week’s time. Rule of law in the state has gone to the dogs and the perpetrators of crime have got sanctuary in the dispensation of the Samajwadi Party. The rally was organised by the Delhi Union of Working Journalists (DUWJ), affiliated to the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ). Thanks to the powerful social media that hundreds of persons gathered at a very brief notice.
A memorandum was also given to the President of India, the Prime Minster of India, the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh demanding among other things, the immediate sacking and arrest of guilty minister and the policepersons, an inquiry through the CBI, adequate compensation to the family of the late Jagendra Singh. It was also demanded that full protection to journalists must be ensured for safeguarding the constitutional right of freedom of speech and expression.
It was vowed in the rally that if the demands of journalists were not met immediately then a nationwide agitation would be launched. It was also decided that the centre of agitation would shift to Lucknow, where thousands of media persons and general public would march to intensify their agitation against the corrupt and inefficient Government of Uttar Pradesh.
IFWJ president K. Vikram Rao said that Uttar Pradesh Government has completely failed to provide the security of life and liberty to people. He expressed shock that even the journalists of the State also failed to rise to the occasion. Veteran trade union leader and the General Secretary of All-India Railwaymen’s Federation, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Advocate Parmanand Pandey, editor of Bhadas4Media, Yashwant Singh, Social Media Activist, Chandra Kant Pandey, Organising Secretary of the Dainik Jagran Employees Union, Dileep Dwivedi, Rajesh Verma from UNI of Employees Union and the Secretary of the Press Club of India, Nadeem Ahmed Kazmi were among those who addressed the rally.
It was conducted by young Journalist Krishna Kant. Chandan Rai Convenor – Delhi Union of Working Journalists
