IJU expresses concern over Govt's censorship attempt

NEW  DELHI,  Apr 1:  The  Indian  Journalists  Union (IJU) has expressed grave  concern  over  attempts by  the  Union  Government  to  resort  to backdoor censorship  of media covering  COVID-19  by urging  the  Supreme  Court to  issue direction  to prevent  fake  and  inaccurate  reporting, whether intended or not, either by electronic, print or social media which will cause panic in the society.
A statement issued by  IJU conveyed that the Government’s justification that the exodus of migrant labourers was triggered due to panic created  by  some  fake/misleading  news  and social  media,  is  pathetic  and simply unacceptable.
Rather, it  was thanks  to  the media  that  misery  of  thousands  of  migrants  came under the spotlight, putting the Government in a spot and scrambling for a plan for their survival, it alleged.
The statement continued that IJU president Geetartha Pathak and secretary general and IFJ vice president  Sabina  Inderjit  hailed  the  order  of  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  count  that  it refrained from interfering with the free discussion about the pandemic and for directing the media to refer to and publish the official  version  about the developments.
The  orders  came  with  regard  to  a  PIL filed  for redressal  of  grievances  of  migrant  labourers  in different  parts  of the  country,  wherein thousands  along  with  their families , were  walking hundreds of kilometers  from their work place to their  villages/towns.
The  media is aware of  its duties and  journalists  have  been covering the pandemic with utmost responsibility, even  at  risk  to  their  health  and  the  Government  must  appreciate  this  fact and  keep  it  well-informed with facts. The Government , through  a hurried  lockdown,  was  obviously  unconcerned  about the devastating impact it would  have on the daily and  migrant workers and  it  is what led to the panic.  For  the  Government to  pass  on  the  blame to  the  media  is  unfair,  said  IJU.
Further, while appreciating  the Government  aiding the media through its  daily  bulletins, IJU  stated that it will still be the duty of the media to verify and doubly check the said information provided.
The  IJU  also  urged  the  Government  to  ensure  that  its  appeal/orders  to  industries  not  to  lay  off workers, should also apply to the media sector, which is seeing laying-off of staff and journalists.
Equally  important,  the  Government  must  also  consider  providing  insurance  coverage  to media persons who are covering COVID-19 at the risk of their health and well-being, it concluded.