JOIN USTV editors demand action against Raj Thackeray
The Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA) on Sunday demanded the government to initiate legal action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray threatening Hindi news channels.
Addressing a party meeting in Mumbai earlier in the day, Thackeray had said: “I want to tell Hindi news channels to first understand the issue before it is broadcast... otherwise we know how to stop them.”
His statement came after some Hindi news channels and leaders of the JD (U), RJD and BJP from Bihar attacked him for his remarks on Friday that he would brand people from Bihar as infiltrators and make them leave Maharashtra.“It is not a threat held out against media but an assault on the roots of democracy. Such statements are not acceptable in a democratic society. The statement reveals his contempt for the Constitution, rule of law and society,” the BEA said in a statement.
It demanded the governments at the Centre and also in Maharashtra to initiate legal action against Thackeray for threatening media persons under the Indian Penal Code in the larger interest of public confidence in democratic system and rule of law.
Describing Thackeray and his supporters as “lumpen elements”, the BEA also demanded the Maharashtra government to ensure protection to mediapersons in Mumbai.
JD(U) charge
Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (United) alleged that Thackeray was acting at the behest of Congress party and making inflammatory statements against people from Bihar just to make a dent into the vote bank of the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in the elections.
“He (Thackeray) is a Congress’ man. The ruling Congress party has given him an agenda to make a dent into the vote bank of BJP-Shiv Sena in the state. The Congress is worried about BJP-Shiv Sena alliance because it is going to win the next election in the state,” JD (U) chief and National Democratic Alliance convener Sharad Yadav said.He also suggested the media should desist from giving publicity to Thackeray, saying it was not good in the interest of the country to encourage such a person indulging in dividing people from people.
“Your channels took his statement to every nook and corner of this country. Now, he has spoken against media so that media would start raising the issue of its freedom and he would get more publicity in return,” Yadav said.