SP MLA, minister spar over security of journalists in state

While elaborating on his supplementary question, Sachin spoke about how journalists were arrested while covering an exam paper leak case on Ballia and cited the recent murder of a journalist in Sitapur. Pointing out that several cases were registered against journalists during the Covid pandemic period, he claimed that less than one fourth of these cases led to convictions.

“In 2020, 361 journalists were arrested, while only 54 were later convicted. Aaj ka journalists physical attack, legal harassment jhel raha hai…” said Sachin. He asked the government if it would form such a committee to look into “Right to access for investigation, Minimum wages for freelance journalists, Minimum advertisement to all, Censorship appeal to neutral committee and also protection against FIR until investigation…”

To this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna responded by saying that the SP MLAs should be aware of the “links of those involved in killing the journalist in Sitapur…”

Khanna asserted that the government respects journalists and also appreciates their contribution and, when prompted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who was sitting next to him, also emphasised that the government also gave Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia on the death of journalists during the pandemic period.

Khanna also alleged that instead journalists were harassed during the erstwhile SP government. Claiming that the government is working to ensure security of all, including journalists, Khanna informed the house that there is already a district level committee made for the purpose, which comprises the Superintendent of Police of that respective district, four senior journalists and officials of the Information Department as members, which meets once in two months to tackle such issues.