New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) The National Union of Journalists (India) and the Delhi Journalists' Association (DAJ) on Saturday held a demonstration here, against 'the killing and harassment of journalists'.
'We were heading towards Parliament to protest against the atrocities committed against journalists, but we were stopped by the police near the Press Club of India,' Rakesh Tapliyal, president of DAJ, told UNI.
After the protest, two separate memoranda, addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind, were submitted at the President's Office (President's Secretariat Central Registry Section), demanding protection for journalists from killing, fake cases, harassment by state governments, and enactment of the Journalist Protection Act, Media Council and the Media Commission.
'The first memorandum submitted to the President said three journalists were killed in Uttar Pradesh. Despite demanding security, three journalists were shot dead due to police negligence.
'In the second memorandum, the President was requested to intervene in the cases where journalists were sent to jail by filing sedition cases against them for exposing corruption and administrative failure in Uttarakhand,' the NUJ (I) said in a statement here.
The memorandum submitted to the President said, 'The Uttarakhand government, which sent journalists to jail slapping false cases, is not to be trusted anymore. The President is requested to get these cases investigated by the police of other states,' it added.
Journalists across the country took part in the protest, which was led by Ras Bihari, president of the NUJ-(I), an affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists.
Mr Bihari said that they submitted the letters to the President, demanding the implementation of the Journalist Protection Act.
"On August 30, there will be an online protest against the registration of fake cases against journalists," Mr Bihari added.
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