IJU Condemns Arrest of UP Reporter: Scribe arrested for posing several questions to a Education Minister of UP

KalimNews, New Delhi, 21 March 2023: The Indian Journalists Union condemns the arrest of a reporter for a You Tube channel Sanjay Rana, in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, after he posed several questions to a Minister over her unfulfilled promises of development work during a function in the village on March 11. 

Rana was granted bail after spending 30-odd hours in police custody! 

The video, which went viral has been seen by the IJU, wherein Rana was merely reminding Minister of State (Independent) for Secondary Education, Gulab Devi about the tall promises she had made, such as the village having a concrete road, building a barat ghar (marriage hall), a toilet, boundary wall around the village temple. None were fulfilled. 

The Minister, clearly embarrassed, replied she had been watching his ‘eyes’ throughout and that she still had time to complete the work. However, a day later, Sambhal police arrested him after a BJYM leader filed a complaint claiming he was assaulted by Rana and threatened. 

A FIR under IPC Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), was filed against Rana.

In a statement, IJU President and former Member, Press Council of India and Secretary General and Vice President, International Federation of Journalists Sabina Inderjit said the incident smacks of vendetta and overreach of power. 

It’s undoubtedly a case of harassment and intimidation of Rana, to stop him from doing his job of reporting and seeking accountability.  The Union demanded the Uttar Pradesh government, notorious for filing FIRs against journalists, must desist from misusing laws and such authoritative functioning. It must remember that the government and its ministers are answerable to the public.