Media bodies condemn Rahul’s ‘pliable’ jibe on ANI Editor

New Delhi, January 3

Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s “pliable” jibe for a journalist who recently interviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi today triggered a wave of reactions on social media with journalist bodies expressing concern on the development. The Editors Guild of India in a statement said it had noted the development with concern.

Earlier today Finance Minister Arun Jaitley questioned the silence of “pseudo liberals” on the conduct of Gandhi and tweeted, “The Grandson of the ‘Emergency dictator’ displays his real DNA – attacks and intimidates an independent Editor. Why are the pseudo liberals silent? Waiting for the Editors guild’s response?

In the evening, the Guild said in a statement: “We note with concern the words used by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his criticism of ANI Editor-in-Chief Smita Prakash who interviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. The Guild believes journalists should claim no immunity from healthy and civilised criticism. At the same time, labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on part of the establishment to discredit, de-legitimise and intimidate them. The Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps and Press Association in a joint statement spoke of gradual decline in the nature of political discourse. — TNS