Editors Guild of India flays Telangana govt action against journos

The Editors Guild of India has criticized the Telangana government for "intimidating" journalists of 'Outlook' for writing a satirical piece and termed it as an attempt to "intimidate" the press and "muzzle" free expression.

The Guild said that "continued harassment" of 'Outlook' and its journalists "is to be seen as an attempt to intimidate not just the magazine but the press in general and muzzle free expression".

"The Editors Guild of India is concerned over the attempt to intimidate the press through abuse of power and gross over­reaction to the publication of an insensitive piece in Outlook magazine.

"The Guild calls upon the Telengana government and the officials concerned to exercise restraint and desist from this undemocratic course," N Ravi, President of the Editors Guild, said in a statement.

The Guild said that the magazine has expressed regret for publication of the piece and caricature with sexist overtones in its satirical 'Deep Throat' column under the headline 'No boring Babu'.

"While the publication of the story was unfortunate, the reaction that followed was wholly disproportionate to any offence caused," it said. 

The Guild further said the "abuse and intimidation" of Outlook's Assistant Editor in Hyderabad, the withdrawal of her accreditation, registration of criminal cases and the police action in summoning Outlook journalists, including the Editor, for investigation are the result of the "gross abuse" of power by bureaucratic office holders who might have felt aggrieved by the satirical piece.