In Delhi, outrage: all parties call for action against Punjab cops

BJP’s Ajay Maroo, who raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha through a special mention, said that Dheer was being ‘‘penalised for writing against the Punjab IGP.’’ Criticising the manner in which Dheer’s arrest was effected, Maroo said even the correspondent’s father and other family members were not informed about his arrest.

Outside Parliament, leaders of all parties criticised Dheer’s arrest. Congress general secretary Ambika Soni said: ‘‘We are against any action taken against a journalist as a result of any investigative writing by him after collecting ample evidence.’’

Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said: ‘‘It is regretable… we stand for the freedom of Press. Journalists have every right to investigate and report. If anybody undermines that, it is for the Government to take action against the guilty.’’

BJP’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha V K Malhotra said Dheer’s arrest was ‘‘very unfortunate’’ and the manner of his arrest reflected the ‘‘Emergency mindset.’’

‘‘Dheer’s release on bail today,’’ Malhotra said, ‘‘does not wipe out the original sin of the arrest.’’ The way he was arrested last night was reminiscent of the Emergency midnight knocks. ‘‘It shows that the Emergency era mindset continues to operate.’’ Malhotra said the BJP would seek to raise the issue in Lok Sabha tomorrow.

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said: ‘‘I condemn the incident very strongly. It is a direct attack on the freedom of the Press.’’ Basudeb Acharya, leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha, said, ‘‘Such incidents are to be condemned and should not be allowed to happen.

This is definitely an infringement of the freedom of the Press.’’

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of the Shiromani Akali Dal termed the arrest of Dheer as an attack on the freedom of the Press. ‘‘The only aim of those who perpetrated it is to throttle the voice of independent media. I personally and my party are at a loss of words to condemn such highhanded action of the authorities.’’

Condemning the ‘‘high handedness’’ of Punjab police, Ajay Chautala, general secretary of Indian National lok Dal (INLD), said,‘‘It seems Punjab police is resorting to its notorious ways. For us, the inaction of Haryana police in safeguarding Dheer’s freedom is an issue. The Haryana police are no better than their Punjab peers.’’

Strongly condemning the arrest, the Editors’ Guild today termed the Punjab police action as ‘‘arbitrary’’ and violative of the principle of a free press. ‘‘This arbitrary arrest is a clear violation of Dheer’s rights as a citizen and media professional. It is also violative of the Principle of a free press, guaranteed by the Constitution,’’ the guild said in a statement here.

It said that the Punjab police action indicated how prone insitutions like the police are to abusing their authority in order to protect themselves from the public gaze and the rule of law.