Post Tablighi Jamaat incident, NBA slams fundamentalists for threatening reporters

News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has expressed grave concern over some people belonging to a certain section of the society abusing and threatening anchors and reporters working in news channels. 

In a statement issued, Rajat Sharma, President, NBA, said, “This particular trend has been noticed after electronic media recently exposed the role of Tablighi Jamaat in the spread of Coronavirus, resulting in a nationwide spurt in number of positive cases and subsequent deaths.” 

He alleged that anchors and reporters working in news channels are being specifically targeted through social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok and Twitter. 

There are videos circulating on social media in which some religious preachers are naming some TV news anchors and threatening attacks on the reporters of those channels. 

“NBA strongly deplores this pernicious trend in a section of society and appeals to the government and law enforcing agencies to take immediate preventive action against such anti-social elements,” NBA urged. 

The statement further said, “The electronic media has done exemplary work in reporting Coronavirus pandemic in India during the current lockdown and the overall tenor of reporting has been fair, accurate and balanced. All sections of society are given fair representation on TV debates on Coronavirus pandemic.” 

NBA has called upon religious fundamentalists to desist from issuing open threats and making insinuations against news channels. “Such activities are violative of the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, as enshrined in our Constitution,” it maintained. 

Sharma, in the statement issued, further said, “News channels are available to all sections of society, including the fundamentalists. NBA would like these leaders to come forward and clear their stand on the role of Tablighi Jamaat in spreading the Coronavirus.” 

The News Broadcasters Association is the association exclusively of 24x7 news broadcasters in India. It has 27 broadcasters as its members representing 77 channels.

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