Act of Rowdyism at TV office, alleges CorCom
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 07 2020: The act of rowdyism committed by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at the office of a well known TV channel on June 2 exposed its autocratic nature, CorCom alleged today.

A statement issued by CorCom publicity committee alleged that BJYM was directly interfering into the freedom of India by flexing its muscles at the office of the TV channel.

It was a challenge to the media's freedom of expression.

Media is included among the essential services and freedom of opinion and freedom of expression are protected under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Even though India claims to be the biggest democracy in the world, the Government has gagged the media, it alleged.

Moreover, BJP has taken control of many well established media houses and converted them into its mouthpieces, the CorCom alleged.

The recent act of rowdyism was driven by a craving for personal gains, it said.

In a public speech given in June 2014 soon after he was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi stated that democracy would not last long in India if the freedom of speech and expression cannot be protected.

However, among 180 countries of the world, India occupies 142nd position in the World Press Freedom Index 2020 and it testifies how the Government of India has been suppressing media, it continued.

The CorCom then saluted the State's media houses and journalists who have been working under an oppressive atmosphere amidst the Manipur (Kangleipak)- India conflict.

It also hailed the media fraternity of the whole world in general and the State's media fraternity in particular who have been fighting the COVTD-19 pandemic at the frontline without thinking of their own safety and all the risks to which they are exposing themselves.

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