Don't investigate us
By Justice Markandey Katju
Huge protests are being held by Indian journalists against
the action taken by the authorities of investigating many of their fraternity.
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| Don't investigate us By Justice Markandey Katju |
In sum and substance what these journalists are saying is
that since we are critical of the government we must not be investigated, even
for our alleged wrongdoings.
In August this year, The New York Times published an article
alleging that the website NewsClick, an organisation founded in 2009, is funded
by US billionaire Neville Roy Singham for pushing Chinese propaganda. It is
well known that Mr Singhum has close ties with the Chinese government, and the
journalists against whom the Indian authorities took action were alleged to be
associated with Newsclick, and thus possibly receiving Chinese funds.
I am a supporter of media freedom, but I am very suspicious
of publications and portals which are foreign funded. What is the real purpose
and design of such foreigners who fund such publications and websites? Surely
no one would invest a lot of money for benign or charitable objectives.
I support independent journalists, even if they criticise the government.
But should journalists who allegedly get foreign funds for
ulterior motives not even be investigated ? If the allegations against them are
true, such persons are in my opinion not even journalists but hirelings of
foreign powers. Should such alleged hirelings not even be investigated just
because they have been critical of the government?
I too have been very critical of many of the things which
the Indian government has done. But that does not justify everything which
these anti-government' independent journalists' do. Freedom of the media does
not mean abuse of media freedom. Should allegations of peddling Chinese
propaganda not even be investigated?
I have been very critical of the pro-government 'godi' media, and regard them vile, shameless, and sold out. But does that mean that the anti government mediapersons claiming to be independent be given a free hand to do wrong things such as selling themselves to foreign powers hostile to the Indian Government and receiving money from them?
I think one is as despicable as the other.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of
India. These are his personal views.)
