The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has condemned the attempt to attack Arnab Goswami, managing director and editor-in-chief of Republic TV, and his wife in Mumbai.
NBF stated it is “concerned and shocked on the recent attempt to attack Arnab Goswami” by a section belonging to a “particular political party in Mumbai while they were driving back home from work”.
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The NBF said “it is deplorable to know that the alleged political party, which claims to stand for freedom of expression, has resorted to personal attacks, including filing of FIRs in various states across the country, against Arnab Goswami, for performing his professional duty as a journalist”.
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Journalists are professionals and reflect the views and sentiments of the larger people, it said.
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Instead of engaging in a democratic debate, such incidents of harassment and “attempt to physically attack the individual is shocking and highly condemnable”, it asserted.
NBF is India’s largest industry association representing the combined interests of over 300 TV news channels.
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Dighvijay, DY365 News, First India Rajasthan, Gulistan News, IBC24, India News, JK 24X7, Living India News, MH One News, News Live, News Nation, NewsX, North East Live, Odisha TV, Prag News, Puthiya Thalaimurai TV, Republic Bharat, Republic TV, S Newz, TV5, and Twenty Four News are among its founding members.
“The News Broadcasters Federation strongly condemns the attempt to attack Arnab and his wife, while he was performing his professional duty,” said R. Jai Krishna, secretary-general of NBF.
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“Sorry to know about this (incident). The Government should provide sufficient personal security” to prevent any future instances, said Anand Sankeshwar, managing director of Digvijay News (Karnataka).
“It is very shocking,” said Sreekantan Nair, managing director of Twentyfour News.
“We strongly protest against the incident, and request the police to take immediate action to arrest the culprits,” he added.
Kartikeya Sharma, promoter of ITV Network, said: “We at Itv network condemn this cowardly act of violence against Arnab Goswami and his family in today’s India. This is unacceptable and must be condemned by all.”
“It’s disgrace, shame and utterly rubbish for someone to attack on Arnab and his wife. Such a cowardly act is deeply condemnable and shouldn’t be taken so easily,” said Shankar Bala, CEO, Fourth Dimension.
“This is the price a journalist gets for raising relevant questions; it’s a shame,” Bala added.
“Freedom of the press plays a very important role in democracy. Arnab and his team are risking their lives in this pandemic to bring the news to our nation,” said Ma Hinder Bathla, MH ONE News.
“The personal physical attack on Arnab and his wife is deplorable,” added Bathla.