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World Sikh News will defend media's
freedom to the hilt
San Jose,
California:
The World
Sikh News management has released a statement following reports of
attacks on the offices of Rozana Spokesman in Punjab.
The statement was signed by Harjot S Khalsa and Jasjeet Singh,
Directors and Satnam Singh Khalsa, General Manager.
The sole English
language newspaper of the Sikhs in the western hemisphere, the World
Sikh News, its management and staff express their deep concern at
the attack carried out by the followers of self-styled godman
Ashutosh on the offices and staffers of Rozana Spokesman in
Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur and elsewhere in Punjab, India. It
seems the newspaper's bold coverage of the illegal and immoral
activities of Ashutosh had elicited this uncivilized form of
discourse in which the so-called godman's goons, accompanied by
women associates, indulged in violence against journalists and
staffers who had no concern with the published matter. Ashutosh and
his cult have earlier too been indulging in making a mockery of
Sikhism and Sikh practices, a fact well documented by vast sections
of the media and the Sikh community activists.
It is now clear
that while an Amritdhari Sikh reporter was severely beaten in
Jalandhar, the Punjab Police personnel remained mute witnesses,
triggering memory recalls of the days when Sikhs were being burnt on
the streets of Delhi
in full view of the police and paramilitary. The World Sikh News and
its management and staff condemn this attack on the freedom of press
and remain deeply concerned about the incidents of violence against
journalists in India.
This was nothing
but a clear attempt to intimidate the newspaper's management and
journalists and prevent them from covering an issue of obvious
public interest. The Punjab and Central Governments' silence is
deafening for anyone remotely bothered about the construct of a free
press. The World Sikh News is dedicated to the defense of the press
freedom around the world. We call on Punjab Chief Minister Mr.
Parkash Singh Badal to undertake thorough investigation in the
matter and present to the people the findings after a time bound
transparent probe. Also, we urge him to ensure that all journalists
of Rozana Spokesman and its editor, S. Joginder Singh, are able to
work safely, without fear of threats or intimidation.
3 October, 2007
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