Muzzling the Press has been attempted time and over again in the country and the state. The Chief Minister, tried it last year. And now the protectors of the law have taken a shot at it. The latest attack is directed at 'Gomantak Times' Editor Sujay Gupta. JONQUIL SUDHIR reports.

ONE OF THE objects of a newspaper is to understand the popular feeling and give expression to it; another is to arouse among the people certain desirable sentiments; the third is fearlessly to expose popular defects.” – Mahatma Gandhi.

Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution of India gives every citizen the freedom of speech and expression. It is a fundamental right giving any Indian man, woman and child the liberty to express their ideas and opinions, either by word of mouth, writing, printing, illustration or any other means. A fundamental right that is extended to and considered sacrosanct by the Press. It is a right which enables the Press to, independently and fearlessly, voice public feeling and opinion. An absolute necessity in a functioning democracy. After all, it is the Press that informs and speaks for the masses.

But there are always those who have something to hide, who have vested interests, whose actions are suspect. Who do not want to be brought to task and judged by the people. And so they attempt to muffle the Press. With threats, police complaints, court cases and, in extreme cases, violence.

BATTLE LINES DRAWN: Sujay Gupta, refuses to give in.

There have been several such instances in the country and the State. Incidences, which are on the rise, because everything and everyone is under the media’s scrutiny. Including the government and government bodies. Just last year, N Ram, editor of The Hindu, was censured in the Tamil Nadu Assembly because the government found the adjectives he used to describe Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s speeches objectionable. Nikhil Wagle, editor of Mahanagar, is under constant attack, physical and verbal, for his outspoken criticism of the Shiv Sena. In Goa last year, the Chief Minister attempted to gag the Press by sending letters to the editors and publishers of all English dailies saying that they would be taken to court if they published the Opposition’s comments about him and his family.

The recent victim of such an attempt to silence the Press is the recently appointed Editor of the Gomantak Times, Sujay Gupta. Gupta has been barraged with letters from the Public Relations Officer of the Goa Police, DySP, S.M. Sawant. His crime? Publishing reports on the increasing number of crimes against women and children in Goa and writing editorials on the inefficiency of the Police department. Sawant’s recent letter, dated September 24, went so far as to accuse the Editor of “verbal stripping” due to his “contractual obligation to some commercial giant.” He went on to say that pure criticism cannot bring out transformation, only “genuine praise and restrained pointing out of faults” and asked that Gupta and his organisation refrain from “racking up stories and anecdotes of a dark background because editorials are meant to work as beacons… to steer ships.” Sawant further added that the Editor would have to face trial in “the court of the readers,” which prompted Gupta to write an open letter on the front page of the Gomantak Times asking its readers to judge for themselves. The paper has received a thunderous response with readers condemning Sawant’s, and the Police Department’s, attitude.

Is Sujay Gupta disheartened? Is he going to step back and ‘genuinely praise’? “No!” comes the firm reply. “It’s a part of the job,” he says. And Sujay Gupta is no stranger to pressure from those who have been at the receiving end of his pen’s might. Having served with reputed newspapers like the Telegraph, the Statesman, the Asian Age and the Times of India before joining GT, Gupta is not afraid to take a stand. He rubbishes Sawant’s insinuations of commercial interest saying, “We report facts truthfully and clearly... I am not a crusader or an activist fighting the government, but a postman delivering news to the people.” But Gupta is concerned about the Police department’s attitude, especially since the DGP Amod Kanth recently ordered that no police officer below the rank of Superintendent speak to the Press. Which will make it very hard for journalists to get information. “When the Police Department has such an attitude, it will obviously make one wonder what they are trying to conceal or hide.”

But Sujay Gupta firmly reassures his readers saying that the flak from the Police, or anyone else for that matter, will not stop him or his team from delivering the goods to the public. His job, he says, is to truthfully report the goings on in Goa to the Public. And we’re still allowed to do that in our country, right?

Back