Concerned about Congress’ statement on criminal complaint against NDTV’s Shiv Aroor: Editors Guild

The Editors Guild of India on Sunday said that it was concerned about the statement of a Congress spokesperson about the party’s intention to file a criminal complaint against NDTV journalist Shiv Aroor for allegedly defaming the party.

During his show on August 19, Aroor had spoken about psephologist Sanjay Kumar’s apology for having made erroneous claims about voter numbers in two Assembly constituencies in Maharashtra’s Nagpur and Nashik districts. The Bharatiya Janata Party accused Congress leaders of using Kumar’s erroneous data to spread misinformation about the electoral process.

On August 22, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged a “malicious attempt” by Aroor to defame the Congress and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He had said that a criminal complaint had been filed, and that the party’s lawyer “will pursue every remedy to the fullest extent of law”.

The Editors Guild on Sunday said it was troubled “by the creeping tendency to invoke criminal charges” against mediapersons in response to their professional work. The guild, however, said that it was not offering a comment about the contents of the broadcast in question.

“The Guild reiterates its longstanding position that criminal laws should not be used as instruments of harassment against journalists,” it said. “All political parties are urged to refrain from such measures.”

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