Delhi: The raid by a team of the Enforcement Directorate at the office of NewsClick and at the home of Prabir Purkayastha, the founder and editor-in-chief, sent shock waves across the media fraternity.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation, an association of digital only media organizations in India strongly condemns the raids conducted by the ED at the office of NewsClick, and the homes of its directors and editor Purkayastha.
The raid, which began at 10 a.m., was seen as a continuum of the series of attacks on the media in recent times, especially on sections of the media that have been critical of Narendra Modi led BJP government and have questioned the policies of the government consistently.
DIGIPUB, in its statement claimed that NewsClick has always upheld the highest standards of journalistic integrity and speaking truth to power. Its commendable journalistic work seeking to hold power accountable speaks for itself.
The statement further reads, “DIGIPUB believes that the ED raids on NewsClick, its editor and directors, is a clear attempt to suppress journalism critical of the government and its allies. Such use of state agencies to intimidate journalists and suppress adversarial journalism is detrimental to not only the freedom of the press, but also the very idea of democratic accountability. Everyone emerges poorer in the long run.”
It demanded, “We demand that the government stop the ED action against NewsClick forthwith and make clear why the news organisation was raided to begin with. A free press, so integral to the preservation of democracy, can’t survive if journalists aren’t allowed to carry their professional work without fear.”
Meanwhile, NewsClick too issued a brief statement on the raids, “Truth shall prevail. We have full faith in the legal system,” said a brief statement by Newsclick, adding that the raids are still underway and a full statement will be released only after the process is over.
Earlier, speaking briefly on the issue to some reporters, Pranjal, accompanied by two ED officials, said: “There has been an ongoing raid since morning. We were shown a notice. Right now our documents are being checked. We are co-operating and will continue to co-operate.”
Earlier, soon after the raids, several journalists had expressed shock and anger on raid and tweeted about it.
