Chandigarh, August 29
The Editors Guild of India has condemned the violent attack on Mr Nikhil Wagle, Chief Editor of Marathi evening daily, Mahanagar, Mumbai, and two other journalists in Malvan on August 28.
In a statement issued here today the Secretary-General of the guild, Mr Om Thanvi, said it was only a few days ago that the paper's Hindi Editor, Mr Sajid Rashid, was also attacked in Mumbai. He said : "That two editors have been set upon by fanatic and nefarious elements within four days speaks of the abdication of responsibility by the Maharashtra Government to protect the freedom of the Press. More regrettable is the fact that instead of swinging into action the state government has reduced itself to the level of a mute spectator."
Mr Thanvi recalled that after the murderous attack on Mr Rashid, the guild had demanded that the state government should take appropriate steps to protect the editors of Mahanagar and their colleagues. He regretted that the government had turned a deaf ear to the serious suggestion made by the highest body of the editors in India and the result was obvious, "another attack on another Editor within a span of four days".
He said the incident had underscored not only the failure of the Maharashtra Government to protect editors from fanatical hardliners, but also proved the government's inability to ensure the freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution. He said such incidents might cause scare not only among journalists, but also in society and were bound to have a bearing on our social fabric and democracy.
Mr Thanvi urged the Central Government to intervene in the matter to ensure safety and security to the journalistic community in Maharashtra. He also urged "such sections of society as are prone to answering any criticism with intolerance to show due respect to the media.
