June 2015 has not been a good month for India’s journalists. So far, two reporters have been killed and another is recovering from an attack on his life.
On Sunday, the body of Sandeep Kothari, a local correspondent for a Hindi daily in Madhya Pradesh was found in Wardha district of Maharashtra. He was murdered in Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. Three people allegedly involved in illegal mining have been arrested for the murder.
On June 8, Jagendra Singh was burnt to death by policeman in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh for accusing a state minister of being involved in illegal mining.
On June 15 Haider Khan was dragged behind a motorcycle for reporting on an illegal land grab. He is in hospital.
No Country For Journalists
Are these recent incidents an aberration? Not according to ‘Reporters Without Borders’, a non-profit based in Paris. India is ranked 138th out of 180 countries when it comes to freedom of media and the safety of journalists.
According to Saikat Datta, former Editor, National Security of the Hindustan Times, journalists, particularly investigative reporters “have no legal protection in India.”
In the United States, the 1st Amendment is not just an enabler, it also provides legal protection to journalists. Indian journalists have no such legal protection.
– Saikat Datta former Editor, National Security, Hindustan Times
Investigative reporters in particular, according to Datta, work against the status quo and are often made targets.
It’s not just about legal protection though. There is an atmosphere that seems to allow journalists to be attacked, even killed.
Kumar Ketkar, a senior journalist and columnist based in Maharashtra, says that an “atmosphere of fear” has become pervasive, at least in part because of either the “indifference or connivance of the government and political outfits”.
These attacks on the freedom of speech and expression are not limited to any particular political party or ideology.
In UP it is the Samjawadi Party, in Maharashtra we have Hindutva outfits like the MNS, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal. Then there are the Jihadi groups that will intimidate any Muslim youth who makes statements they disagree with.
– Kumar Ketkar, Former Editor Loksatta and Columnist
Are We to Blame?
The big question is why isn’t there more outrage.
There is little solidarity among journalists. There is ‘outrage’ over the most banal issues but not for journalists who are killed, particularly outside the big cities.
– Rajdeep Sardesai, Consulting Editor, India Today
The fact that there have been no major protests, no high-profile editors loudly championing the cause of their comrades is surprising.
The Editors Guild of India did condemn the incident, but is that enough? According to Kumar Ketkar, it is not a question of the Editor’s Guild or any other national body, but rather standing up for freedom of expression.
Govind Panasare wasn’t just a communist, he was also a writer and journalist. The same is true for Narendra Dabholkar. He was more than a rationalist and activist. He was also a writer. We didn’t stand up for them as much as we should have.
– Kumar Ketkar
However, the issue is not just about a lack of fraternity among scribes. After all, a free, vibrant and fair media is something all citizens should want, isn’t it? Then why haven’t more politicians and civil society groups spoken out against the murders of journalists?
“Journalists have been their own worst enemy,” says Rajdeep Sardesai. “They are ridden with internal rivalries and some of them have even become blackmailers. Then there are those that have allied themselves to corporate houses or political parties.”
All this has led to an erosion of credibility and respect the media once enjoyed.
This lack of credibility also makes journalists a soft target. They can be vilified in public or even attacked by the Mafia and politicians and civil society groups don’t feel the need to stand up for us. At least in part, the media has contributed to its own downfall.
– Rajdeep Sardesai
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