India: Select Statements & Reports on Police Raids on Homes of Journalists, Cultural Activists and Critics of the Modi Government

Statement from Journalists Unions

National Alliance of Journalists (Regd.)
Delhi Union of Journalists (Regd.)
Flat No.29, Central Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi-1 Phone: 23413459, Email: dui.delhi[at]gmail.com

3 October, 2023

The National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit) condemn the police raids at the houses of journalists Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Teesta Setalvad, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, Mahesh Kumar, Subodh Varma, Aditi Nigam, Mukund Jha and many others this morning. Phones and laptops of these journalists were seized. Several of the media persons have been taken into custody. The Delhi Police has also raided the homes of comedian Sanjay Rajoura and academic Sohail Hashmi. Reportedly, the raids are being conducted in connection with an FIR filed under the draconian UAPA and laws relating to criminal conspiracy and disruption of communal harmony.

These raids are in connection with alleged foreign investments in Newsclick. The government has been targeting Newsclick apparently after the coverage this news portal gave to the issues of workers and farmers.

We believe that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to muzzle the freedom of press. Such an action, raiding and intimidating almost all the employees in a media organisation, is unheard of. The Newsclick management has been maintaining that whatever funding they have received was through legal sources and evidences for this have been submitted in the High Court of Delhi.

These new raids are to divert public attention from burning livelihood issues of people. Unfortunately, journalists are being targeted for furthering the political agenda of the ruling party. We condemn this with the strongest possible words.

We will stand with these journalists in this matter. We urge the Centre to immediately stop this attack on press freedom We urge the media fraternity to protest against this witch-hunt by the government.

Sd/-
S.K.Pande - President-NAJ
N.Kondaiah - Secretary General -NAJ
G.Anjaneyulu - General Secretary-APWJF
Prasoon S. Kandath -President KUWJ (Delhi Unit),
D.Dhanasumodh - Secretary KUWJ (Delhi Unit),
Sujata Madhok -President DUJ
A.M.Jigeesh -General Secretary-DUJ

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ALL INDIA DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

2253-E, Shadi Khampur, New Ranjit Nagar, New Delhi – 110008

Email: aidwacec[at]gmail.com | Website: aidwaonline.org

Date: 3 October 2023

AIDWA Condemns Raids on journalists, writers and human rights activists

The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) strongly condemns the early morning raids on journalists, writers, satirists and human rights activists today in Delhi and Mumbai. This highly undemocratic, unjustified, repressive action has been ostensibly been carried to intimidate independent and fearless journalists and others who have been critical of the government policies. The BJP government has now chosen to use the draconian UAPA along with other sections of the IPC to carry out these latest raids and confiscate the electronic belongings, including laptops and mobiles of the concerned individuals.

AIDWA expresses solidarity with all those who have been the target of the raids today. AIDWA appeals that all democratic citizens come together to oppose this illegal and repressive actions by this fascistic regime. AIDWA also demands that those who have been detained or taken away by the police today must be released forthwith.

P. K. Sreemathi, President
Mariam Dhawale, General Secretary

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Statement by Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on BJP Government’s Fresh Attack on the Media

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties strongly condemn the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government’s fresh attack on the media. We steadfastly stand with the media and for the constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and expression.

In the last nine years, the BJP government has deliberately persecuted and suppressed the media by deploying investigative agencies to suppress the British Broadcasting Corporation, Newslaundry, Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar, the Kashmir Walla, the Wire etc., and most recently the journalists of NewsClick. The BJP government has also tried to convert the media into a mouthpiece for its partisan and ideological interests by facilitating the takeover of media organisations by crony capitalists. Both the government and its ideologically aligned organisations have resorted to reprisals against individual journalists who spoke truth to power. Furthermore, the BJP government has also spearheaded regressive policies like the Information Technology Rules 2021 that constrict the media from reporting objectively. In doing so, the BJP is not only hiding its sins of omissions and commission from the people of India. It is also compromising India’s global standing as a mature democracy.

The BJP government’s coercive actions are invariably directed against only those media organisations and journalists that speak truth to power. Ironically, the BJP government is paralysed when it comes to taking action against those journalists inciting hatred and divisiveness in the nation. In the national interest, it would behove the BJP Government to focus on genuine issues of concern to the nation and the people, and stop attacking the media to distract attention from its failures.

Jai Hind

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SAHMAT

3 October 2023

Protest Statement against police raids on journalists and others

In a shocking incident in the early hours of the morning today (3rd October), the Delhi Police and other state agencies conducted raids on the homes of several journalists and others associated with the news portal Newsclick, including Abhisar Sharma, Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Githa Hariharan, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Sanjay Rajaura, Anuradha Raman, Satyam Tiwari, Aditi Nigam, Sumedha Pal, Teesta Setalvad, Paranjoy Guha-Thakurta, Subodh Verma, D. Ragunandan, Mukund Jha. A raid was also conducted at the residence of Sohail Hashmi, historian of Delhi, public campaigner and activist. The raids involved interrogation of the individuals concerned for hours, and confiscation of their electronic devices including mobile phones and laptops.

We unequivocally condemn this high-handed action and express solidarity with all those subjected to the undemocratic means adopted by the police and other agencies.

M.K. Raina, Ram Rahman, Madan Gopal Singh, Prabhat Patnaik, Irfan Habib, Zoya Hasan, Malini Bhattacharya, Indu Chandrasekhar, Anil Chandra, Manini Chatterjee, Shobha Madan, Ramesh Dixit, Prasanna, Aban Raza, Abhilasha Kumari, Aditya Mukherjee, Ahmar Raza, Amar Farooqui, Anil Bhatti, Archana Prasad, Arpana Caur, Atlury Murali, C.P. Chandrasekhar, Chanchal Chauhan, Dinesh Abrol, Jawari Mal Parakh, K. L. Tuteja, K. M. Shrimali, Lata Singh, M.M.P. Singh, Madhu Prasad, Mohan Rao, Mridula Mukherjee, N.K. Sharma, Nadeem Rezavi, Nagendra Sharma, Nina Rao, Parthiv Shah, Praveen Jha, Pulin Nayak, Pushpamala N., Radhika Menon, Rahul Verma, Raj Chauhan, Rajinder Arora, Rajni Arora, Rekha Awasthi, Saba Hasan, Saeed Mirza, Sanjeev Kumar, Sashi Kumar, Shakti Kak, Shireen Moosvi, Sudhir Chandra, Sukumar Muralidharan, Veer Munshi, Vertika Chaturvedi, Vishwamohan Jha

SAHMAT
36, Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane,
New Delhi-110001
Tel:011-23381276/23070787
email:sahmat8[at]yahoo.com
Website www.sahmat.in
www.sahmat89.org
SAHMAT BOOKS

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18 Media Organisations Write to CJI Chandrachud Expressing Alarm Over Attacks on Press Freedom

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[October 4, 2023]

Statement from Newsclick

Today, on 3rd October, 2023, raids were carried out by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police at various locations including Newsclick’s officen, residences of journalists and employees associated with Newsclick.

Several persons were questioned, and as of now, our Director Mr. Prabir Purkayastha and one Mr. Amit Chakraborty have been arrested.

We have not been provided with a copy of the FIR, or informed about the exact particulars of the offences with which we have been charged. Electronic devices were seized from the Newsclick premises and homes of employees, without any adherence to due process such as the provision of seizure memos, hash values of the seized data, or even copies of the data. Newsclick’s office has also been sealed in a blatant attempt at preventing us from continuing our reporting.

What we have been able to gather is that Newsclick stands accused of offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), for purportedly carrying Chinese propaganda on its website.

We strongly condemn these actions of a Government that refuses to respect journalistic independence, and treats criticism as sedition or “anti-national” propaganda.

Newsclick has been targeted by a series of actions by various agencies of the Government of India since 2021. Its offices and residences of officials have been raided by the Enforcement Directorate, the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police and the Income Tax Department.

All devices, laptops, gadgets, phones, etc. have been seized in the past. All emails and communications have been analysed under the microscope. All bank statements, invoices, expenses incurred, sources of funds received by Newsclick in the last several years have been scrutinised by different agencies of the Government from time to time. Various directors and other related persons have spent countless hours on several occasions being interrogated by these government agencies.

Yet, in the last two plus years, the Enforcement Directorate has not been able to file a complaint accusing Newsclick of money laundering. The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police has not been able to file a charge sheet against Newsclick for offences under the Indian Penal Code. The Income Tax Department has not been able to defend its actions before the Courts of law.

In the last several months, Mr. Prabir Purkayastha has not even been called in for questioning by any of these agencies.

Yet, a Government that has not been able to substantiate any charges against Newsclick despite being in possession of all its information, documentation and communications, needed a motivated and bogus article published in the New York Times to invoke the draconian UAPA and attempt to shut down and stifle independent and fearless voices that portray the story of the real India – of peasants, of labourers, of farmers, and other oft-ignored sections of society.

We want to state for the record:

1. Newsclick is an independent news website.

2. Our journalistic content is based on highest standards of the profession.

3. Newsclick does not publish any news or information at the behest of any Chinese entity or authority, directly or indirectly.

4. Newsclick does not propagate Chinese propaganda on its website.

5. Newsclick does not take directions from Neville Roy Singham regarding the content published on its website.

6. All funding received by Newsclick has been through the appropriate banking channels and have been reported to the relevant authorities as required by law, as substantiated by the Reserve Bank of India in proceedings before the High Court of Delhi.

All journalistic content ever published on Newsclick website is available on the internet, and can be seen by anyone. The Special Cell of Delhi Police has not referred to a single article or video that they consider to be Chinese propaganda. Indeed, the line of questioning adopted by the Special Cell of the Delhi Policy – regarding reportage on the Delhi riots, the farmers protests etc., all demonstrate the motivated and malicious intent behind the present proceedings.

We have full faith in the Courts and the judicial process. We will fight for our journalistic freedom and our lives in accordance with the Constitution of India.

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Statement by Amnesty International

October 4, 2023

India: Arrests and raids at NewsClick signals attack on media critical of the government

Responding to the arrests of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after a series of raids on the homes and offices of several journalists associated with the digital news media on Tuesday in Delhi and Mumbai, Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India, said:

“Journalism is not a crime. The NewsClick raids and the arrest of Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty are the latest attempts by the Indian government to decimate independent and critical media. Authorities must immediately release Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty and allow them to carry out their work without any reprisals.

Journalism is not a crime.
The NewsClick raids and the arrest of Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty are the latest attempts by the Indian government to decimate independent and critical media.
—Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India

“The UAPA is repeatedly weaponized by Indian authorities to intimidate, harass journalists, human rights defenders and activists violating their rights of freedom of expression and association. Its overbroad and vague definitions of ‘terrorist acts’ and other provisions are weaponized to violate fair trial rights and other human rights with impunity.

“The Indian authorities must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone including to freedom of expression and association. Authorities must stop targeting independent media and immediately release any journalists detained on trumped-up or politically motivated charges and solely for their critical reporting.

“In the absence of a robust data protection law in India, the confiscation of phones and laptops of the NewsClick journalists also raises grave concerns of targeted digital surveillance by the Indian government. The grave attacks on human rights must stop.”

Background

The homes and offices of reporters, consultants, editors and contributors associated with the organisation NewsClick were raided under the UAPA – India’s primary counter-terrorism law – for allegedly raising funds for terrorist acts and promoting enmity between different groups and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code amongst others.

According to Delhi Police, 46 journalists were questioned, two arrested and their phones, laptops and devices seized for further examination. The NewsClick Delhi office was sealed. Previously, in 2021 NewsClick was also raided by the Enforcement Directorate, the primary agency to investigate crimes under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Foreign Exchange Management Act.

Newsclick is an independent digital news media platform that has been critical of the government of India and consistently raised human rights issues like the enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act, crackdown on students and farmers protests and violence against minorities.

Recently, Amnesty International has published a new briefing examining the misuse and weaponization of laws like the UAPA which were specifically amended as a pre-condition to India becoming the 34th member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – a global terrorism financing and money laundering watchdog.

Amnesty International and Arsenal Consulting have also documented and linked to Indian authorities the planting of evidence on the electronic devices of human rights defenders in India. In the name of fighting terrorism or maintaining law and order, governments are using a range of surveillance tactics that are impinging on the privacy of people across the world.

Amnesty International has repeatedly documented the Indian authorities’ targeting of journalists, coupled with a broader crackdown on peaceful dissent, in the country.

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A selection of related news reports/editorials:

Delhi police search journalists’ homes in latest raids on media

NewsClick: Raid on India news site over China funding claims

New Delhi Police Raid Homes and Offices of Journalists

Indian police raid critical media outlet over alleged China ties

Indian Police Arrest Two Journalists Amid Media Freedom Worries

En Inde, le site d’information « Newsclick » fait l’objet d’une vaste opération policière

La police indienne perquisitionne les domiciles de journalistes et de militants, deux arrestations

How Indian authorities ‘weaponised’ a New York Times report to target the press

India Is Using Terrorism Laws to Target Journalists

India Police Raids Press Freedom