New Delhi, May 16 (Scoop News)- The Delhi Union of Journalists regrets the Pakistani government’s refusal to renew the visas of two Indian journalists posted in Islamabad. The DUJ demands that the Pakistani authorities reconsider the decision to deny visas to Meena Menon, correspondent of The Hindu and Snehesh Philip, correspondent of the PTI. We wish to point out that very few Indian journalists are posted in Pakistan and denial of visas to even this small number means the denial of information to the Indian people. Such moves will foster further misunderstandings instead of bridging the political distance between the two neighbouring countries.
The Indian government, in turn, must provide visas and facilities to journalists from Pakistan who wish to report from New Delhi, to encourage mutual understanding and cooperation between the peoples and governments of India and Pakistan.
The Delhi Union of Journalists regrets the arbitrary move by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to boot out journalists from the office granted to them in the BSNL building in central Delhi by the central government. The facility was made available to journalists representing small, vernacular, out-of-town newspapers. BSNL shut down the office without notice, denying journalists access to their own equipment including laptops, cameras and files. This move, on the eve of the announcement of election results and formation of a new government, seems vindictive as at this critical time newspersons are expected to work round-the-clock. The DUJ calls upon the authorities to immediately restore the office facilities provided to journalists and ensure that their equipment is returned to them intact.
The 65th anniversary programme and charter release extended national council and executive meeting expressed full solidarity with the struggle by the Indian Express workers, the Hindustan Times workers struggle.
The meeting was inaugurated by senior lawyer Colin Gonzalves. CITU all India President A.K Padhmanabhan was the main speaker. It was also addressed by M.S Yadav Secretary General Confederation of News papers and News Agencies Employee’s Organisations and leaders of the All India Newspaper Employees Federation.
The national and Delhi charter were also approved in the meeting.