JOIN USA journalist detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday has alleged abuse during questioning. Pushp Sharma of Milli Gazette was questioned for his report claiming that the Central government had been discriminating against Muslims in appointment as yoga instructors in Ministry of AYUSH.
Sharma was questioned again at Kotla Mubarakpur police station on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, he was detained from his house in south east Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar at around 6.30 pm. He was released at 10.30 pm on Tuesday with the instructions to report back at the police station at 10 am on Wednesday.
“I told the SHO of the police station concerned that in media if a group does a story and later any interested group or person updates it and sends facts, then the globally accepted policy is to crosscheck the content and publish or upload it with an apology,” Sharma said.
“After listening this for a few minutes, I heard just abuses, and shouts and allegations, like who is behind you and what is your motive? I told them that my decision and reason to do any story is always journalistic,” he added.
Rumours
Sharma alleges that ‘people in power’ are trying to spread rumours and linking him with political outfits.
“It seems the system is hell-bent to do character assassination, arms-twisting and stoops to the extent of mockery and issuing threats just because of a story,” Sharma said.
Sharma faces a case under section 153-A (promoting hatred among communities) and 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
An Under Secretary at Ministry of AYUSH had filed a complaint.
Police said Sharma was not arrested.
On Wednesday, Milli Gazette editor Zafarul-Islam Khan said Sharma’s questioning is harassment of media and muzzling of free speech.
“The ministry should make its enquiries to find out what really happened,” Khan added.