Press Statement- June 15, 2022
The Indian Women’s Press Corps expresses concern at the spate of FIRs against journalists the latest being Navika Kumar for objectionable statements made not by her but someone else in a television debate she was anchoring.
While there can be no question that the Constitution and Constitutional values have to be upheld rather than undermined while exercising the Constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression, indiscriminate use of government power to criminalize journalistic activity also poses a serious danger to press freedom, an essential element of the freedom of expression.
If journalists are expected to be judicious while exercising their freedom on account of the exceptional influence on public opinion, the imperative on governments, both central and state, and their agencies to be judicious in exercising their tremendous power against journalists is even greater.
The iwpc has always expressed concern for journalists’ rights while performing their duties.
Shobhna Jain Simran Sodhi
(President) (General Secretary)
