The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) on Saturday said it will observe protest and vigilance week from Wednesday on wards to call for an end to increasing threats to media persons. The NAJ has asked all its units to observe protests/vigilance week from Wednesday March 13 on wards to call for an end to increasing threats to media persons, using the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and other outdated legislation to browbeat them into tom-tomming official government propaganda. The NAJ general secretary M Koteswara Rao said in Hyderabad in a statement that such threats, such as Rafale deal, constituted dangers not only on the freedom of the press but threatened journalism and the journalists on the eve of announcement of national elections. “The NAJ has noted that the statements came in different stages from not only the Attorney General but subsequently from various ministers and others. Such threats, veiled and not so veiled on issues such as Rafale deal constitute dangers not only on the freedom of the press but threaten journalism and the journalists on the eve of announcement of national elections. It has noted that the statements come in different stages from not only the Attorney General but subsequently from various ministers and others. Mr Rao also called for a phased movement, wherever possible through a united front, based on common issues of press freedom, multiplying attacks including physical and increasing threats often coupled with a carrot and stick approach. “Tomorrow could be too late,” he cautioned.
Journalists’ body to observe protest week from March 13
