By IANS,
Mumbai : The Press Council of India Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan asking why his government should not be sacked for failing to protect journalists.
In a stinging letter to Chavan, a copy of which is with IANS, Council chairman Markandey Katju said press freedom was a constitutional right and the Press Council’s job was to uphold that freedom.
Katju said it was the duty of the state government to maintain law and order.
“But it seems to me that your government is neither able to maintain law and order nor prevent attacks on journalists, which seriously imperils freedom of the press,” he said.
A delegation of eight journalists from Maharashtra led by S.M. Deshmukh, met Katjhu and apprised him of a large number of physical attacks on journalists and media houses in the state, including the most recent on the offices of Maharashtra Times Marathi daily.
Katju was also informed that in the past 10 years, over 800 journalists were physically attacked.
“I had written two letters to you but there was no response to either of them. Did I not even deserve the courtesy of a reply?” Katju asked Chavan.
Katju asked Chavan to show-cause why he (Katju) should not recommend to President Pratibha Patil the dismissal of the state government for failing to uphold the constitution.
He asked Chavan to reply within three weeks, following which “I will take such action as is fit in the circumstances”.
The media delegation also met President Patil.