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Protest march against attempt to `gag' press

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JULY 6. Condemning the "conspiracy'' of the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre to "gag the press'' and `intimidate' scribes on `frivolous' charges, a large number of journalists along with political leaders, social activists, artists and academics today organised a protest march to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, at North Block here, besides submitting a memorandum.

The scribes, led by the veteran columnist and MP, Kuldip Nayar, along with the CPI leader, D. Raja, the CPI(M) MP, Nilotpal Basu, the former Union Minister, Arif Mohammad Khan, the noted social activist, Swami Agnivesh, and the head of news portal Tehelka, Tarun Tejpal, gathered at the Press Club of India and shouted slogans against the Government for `trying to muzzle the press'.

The protesters who had gathered under the banner of the Delhi Union of Journalists also pledged to continue their fight until the Government `stops intimidating' scribes and `tenders an unconditional apology' in the issue. Alleging that the `Government-sponsored anti-press tirade' was also being pursued in different States such as Gujarat, they also warned of taking their protest to every nook and corner of the country and `exposing' the Government.

Demanding the immediate release of the Delhi-based Kashmir

Times journalist, Iftikhar Geelani, arrested on "frivolous charges'' and stopping of the "witch-hunt'' against Tehelka, and inquiry into the attack on the office of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, the protesters said the same leaders who had criticised action against the press during Emergency were now themselves `targeting' journalists.

The Government has given a clear indication that those who target those in power will not be spared, they said.

The protesters were informed that the Left and other secular parties had resolved to raise the issue of the `harassment of journalists' in the coming session of Parliament and not let the BJP and its allies go scot-free.

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