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In a strong rebuttal on the independence of Indian media being threatened by those in power, Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agrawal on Tuesday, 2 January, asked for better protection of journalists and less government intervention in the news media’s day-to-day workings.
“All major media groups are only reporting in favour of the government these days. If a journalist tries reporting anything against the government, the ruling party puts pressure on the publication and gets him sacked,” Agrawal said in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session.
Agrawal also cited the recent killings of journalists like Gauri Lankesh, Naveen Gupta and Kamlesh Jain to highlight the threat to scribes under the current regime.
He further added that while the muzzling is visible in national media, the condition of journalists at the zonal level is even worse. Other than working under constant pressure from the government, the local-level journalists earn less and can barely make a living.
The senior SP leader also cited the example of media reporting during the violence that broke out in Haryana’s Panchkula after the conviction of self-styled godman Ram Rahim Singh.
Agrawal asked the Upper House of the Parliament for better laws ensuring protection of journalists.
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