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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/10/04/international-uproar-following-mass-raids-and-arrest-of-indian-journalists/">peoplesdispatch.org</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">International uproar following mass raids and arrest of Indian journalists<br></h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Peoples Dispatch - October 4, 2023<br></div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>Protests in New Delhi and New York City decrying the raid and detention of journalists in India.
</p><div>
<p>In the hours following the <a href="https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/10/03/50-detained-over-100-homes-raided-in-sweeping-crackdown-on-press-freedom-in-india/">raids</a> of over 100 journalists affiliated with Indian leftist outlet <i>Newsclick</i>, international outlet <i>Peoples Dispatch</i>,
and Tricontinental Research Services, and the detention of around 50,
leading academics and journalists from across the world have expressed
solidarity and outrage.</p>
<p>The coordinated repressive action was carried out as part of an
investigation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, a
draconian law which has been widely criticized by human rights
organizations in India and internationally as it undermines civil
liberties and rights. <i>Newsclick </i>editor-in-chief Prabir
Purkayastha and administrator Amit Chakraborty were arrested during the
raid under the draconian anti-terror law and remain in police custody.</p>
<p>On October 3, after news broke about the raids, the Press Club of India <a href="https://x.com/PCITweets/status/1709165740966953340?s=20">held an emergency meeting</a> in New Delhi, wherein journalists and media activists resolved to continue fighting for media freedom in India.</p>
<p>On October 4, journalists and writers, including novelist Arundhati Roy, <a href="https://x.com/cpimlliberation/status/1709533498430873784?s=20">staged a protest</a>
at the Press Club of India, while hundreds of young activists gathered
at Jantar Mantar area in Delhi to reject the attacks on press freedom.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Several journalist bodies, students’, youth and
civil society organisations held protests at Press Club of India and
Jantar Mantar on October 4th against recent witch hunt of employees of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewsClick?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewsClick</a>, and especially the arrest of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrabirPurkayastha?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrabirPurkayastha</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmitChakravarty?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmitChakravarty</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qjtd7OHzwt">pic.twitter.com/Qjtd7OHzwt</a></p>
<p>— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) <a href="https://twitter.com/cpimspeak/status/1709585336773546074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Roy spoke to the BBC, denouncing the charges against the journalists
under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. “They have confiscated
the phones, the computers, they have charged them under this
anti-terrorism act, collapsing the difference between terrorists and
journalists,” she said.</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Media persons turned up in large number at the
Press Club of India to protest against multiple raids on a number of
journalists associated with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Newsclick?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Newsclick</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeThePress?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeThePress</a> <a href="https://t.co/8KFrTB8tYO">pic.twitter.com/8KFrTB8tYO</a></p>
<p>— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/PCITweets/status/1709545093953450208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewsClick?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewsClick</a>
Delhi citizens came out in hundreds to mark the protest against attack
on freedom of press and expression. While Jantar Mantar saw over 500
young students and activists Press Club of India was jam packed with
journalists .</p>
<p>First three photos from Jantar Mantar ,… <a href="https://t.co/z3K2OiyWz9">pic.twitter.com/z3K2OiyWz9</a></p>
<p>— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShabnamHashmi/status/1709545662734295315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p>In New York City, activists and journalists picketed on October 3 outside of the <i>New York Times</i>
building in Midtown Manhattan. Much of the blame for the latest unjust
targeting of these Indian journalists lies at the hands of the New York
Times. The Indian government has been viciously targeting <i>Newsclick</i> for many years, following their first raid of the outlet in 2021 following <i>Newsclick</i>’s faithful reporting of the farmers’ protests in the country. A recent article by the <i>New York Times</i>, claiming that <i>Newsclick</i>-affiliated journalists are part of a Chinese propaganda network, was used by Modi’s government to justify further repression.</p>
<p>“A Government that has not been able to substantiate any charges
against Newsclick despite being in possession of all its information,
documentation and communications, needed a motivated and bogus article
published in the New York Times to invoke the draconian UAPA and attempt
to shut down and stifle independent and fearless voices that portray
the story of the real India,” said <i>Newsclick</i> in a recent <a href="https://www.newsclick.in/statement-newsclick-oct-3-raids-special-cell-delhi-police">statement</a>. “Of peasants, of laborers, of farmers, and other oft-ignored sections of society.</p>
<p>The <i>New York Times</i>’ recent article is merely a part of the West’s Cold War against China, activists claimed. Ben Becker, editor-in-chief of <i>BreakThrough News</i>, said at the picket that the piece is a way to accuse “anyone who opposes US foreign policy of being an agent of China.”</p>
<p>“What this article did is to lay the groundwork for an attack on the
anti-war movement or anyone who’s critical of US foreign policy against
China,” he said.</p>
<p>It is <i>Newsclick</i>’s steadfast reporting of working class
struggles in India that has landed them in hot water with the Modi
government, said Zoe Alexandra, co-editor of <i>Peoples Dispatch</i>, outside of the 52-story <i>New York Times</i> building.</p>
<p>“[Newsclick] dared to cover the incredibly powerful and courageous
uprising of farmers in India. They were talking to farmers when they
were committing suicide in the dozens and in the hundreds,” said
Alexandra. “It’s Newsclick that covered the largest strike in human
history. A <a href="https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/11/27/250-million-people-participate-in-nationwide-strike-in-india/">quarter billion people</a> on the streets.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hands off NewsClick!</p>
<p>A recent New York Times hit piece smeared leading Indian progressive outlet <a href="https://twitter.com/newsclickin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@newsclickin</a>
as part of a “Chinese propaganda network”. This week the Modi gov’t
cited this pretext for mass raids & arrest of journalists — we
protested outside the NYT in response! <a href="https://t.co/BsOyWJzagJ">pic.twitter.com/BsOyWJzagJ</a></p>
<p>— Party for Socialism and Liberation (@pslnational) <a href="https://twitter.com/pslnational/status/1709652661295804696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p>A coalition of 18 media organizations in India have penned a <a href="https://www.newsclick.in/18-media-organisations-write-cji-call-steps-end-repressive-use-probe-agencies-against-scribes">letter</a>,
published on October 14, to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Y V
Chandrachud, expressing concern over the state’s repression. “The
invocation of UAPA is especially chilling. Journalism cannot be
prosecuted as ‘terrorism’. Enough instances in history abound to tell us
where that eventually goes,” reads the letter. Signatories include
Digipub News India Foundation, the Indian Women’s Press Corps, the Press
Club of India, and the Foundation for Media Professionals.</p>
<p>In Taliparamba municipality in Kerala, India, dozens in the Democratic Youth Federation of India marched in solidarity with <i>Newsclick</i>.</p>
<p>The International People’s’ Assembly (IPA), a platform of over 200 trade unions, people’s movements, and left parties, <a href="https://ipa-aip.org/declarations/stop-the-attacks-against-journalists-in-india/">declared in a statement</a>
on October 3 following the raids: “Today’s raids constitute a dangerous
attack on press freedom in India and concerns all the democratic and
progressive people around the world. The International Peoples’ Assembly
(IPA) demands an end to persecution and press suppression in India.”</p>
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