Hyderabad, March 25: The Editors Guild of India has strongly condemned the attack on the ABN-Andhra Jyothi news channel by activists of Praja Rajyam party here on March 22.
Expressing its dismay over the attack, the guild said in a press release today that such attacks on newspaper and TV channel offices were deplorable and cannot be justified in any way.
Editors Guild of India president Rajdeep Sardesai and secretary-general Coomi Kapoor said that there had been several attacks on newspaper and channel offices across the country in the recent months where each attack raised serious questions over democracy. Any disagreement should be conveyed through peaceful and democratic means in a civil society, the guild said and demanded that political parties should stay away from attacking journalists and media offices.
On March 22 about 50 activists, reportedly belonging to the Praja Rajyam, attacked the ABN-Andhra Jyothi news channel office at Jubilee Hills in reaction to a news report on the party and its chief Chiranjeevi. They hurled stones and damaged the windowpanes of the office building. Some journalists were injured in the scuffle that ensued with the protesters.
The incident evoked widespread condemnation with the AP Union of Working Journalists and AP Electronic Media Journalists Association taking strong exception to the attack.
Journalists took up the issue with Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and other authorities concerned, demanding severe action against the accused.
–Agencies