Coronavirus Outbreak: NBA condemns 'abuses and threats' against journalists for reporting on Tablighi Jamaat
Anchors and reporters working in news channels are being specifically targeted through social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok and Twitter, NBA said.
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The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Monday condemned "abuses and threats" against anchors and reporters working in news channels after reports on coronavirus cases linked to Tablighi Jamaat.
The NBA said it "views with grave concern the tendency among people belonging to a certain section of society resorting to abuses and threats against anchors and reporters working in news channels."
"This particular trend has been noticed after electronic media recently exposed the role of Tablighi Jamaat in the spread of Coronavirus, resulting in a nationwide spurt in the number of positive cases and subsequent deaths," the NBA said.
Anchors and reporters working in news channels are being specifically targeted through social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok and Twitter, it said.
The association, which has 27 broadcasters and 77 channels as its members, noted that there are videos circulating on social media in which some religious preachers are naming some TV news anchors and threatening attacks on the reporters of those channels.
"NBA strongly deplores this pernicious trend in a section of society and appeals to the government and law enforcing agencies to take immediate preventive action against such anti-social elements," it said.
The NBA noted "exemplary work" done by electronic media in reporting coronavirus pandemic in India during the current lockdown and the overall tenor of reporting has been fair, accurate and balanced. All sections of society are given fair representation on TV debates on coronavirus pandemic, it said.
"NBA calls upon religious fundamentalists to desist from issuing open threats and making insinuations against news channels. Such activities are violative of the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, as enshrined in our Constitution," it added.
"News channels are available to all sections of society including the fundamentalists. NBA would like these leaders to come forward and clear their stand on the role of Tablighi Jamaat in spreading the coronavirus," the broadcasters body said.