Thirty six Congress MLAs have submitted the adjournment motion notice on the issue and read it out.
) Arrest of two journalists by police in the insurgency-hit Bastar region rocked the proceedings of Chhattisgarh Assembly on Monday with the main opposition Congress alleging that the scribes are being falsely implicated for writing against government and police, a charge denied by the government. The House was adjourned twice on the issue following a ruckus created by the Congress members who expressed dissatisfaction over government's reply on the issue.
Senior Congress MLA and party's state unit president Bhupesh Baghel raised the issue after Question Hour and sought a discussion on the alleged harassment of journalists by police in Bastar by moving an adjournment motion notice in the House. He was supported by 35 legislators of his party on the issue. Subsequently, Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal informed that 36 Congress MLAs have submitted the adjournment motion notice on the issue and read it out.
Reading out the notice, Speaker said, "Under the democratic system of the country, it is the fundamental right of the citizens to express their opinion freely but police are dictating in the state. "The fourth pillar of democracy 'Press' and journalists are being deliberately targeted under a conspiracy. Journalists are being harassed and implicated in false cases in Bastar region," he said quoting the notice. As per the notice, "On March 21, a Dantewada-based scribe, Prabhat Singh was picked up by police clad in civil clothes in evening and later taken to Parpa police station where he was thrashed. He was booked under section 66, 67 and 67 (A) of the Information Technology Act".
"In this line, another journalist of Dantewada, Deepak Jaiswal was arrested by Geedam police. Notably, Jaiswal had exposed cheating during an examination in Geedam high school. "Later the examination centre head lodged a case against Jaiswal but he was arrested suddenly after several months of the case registered against him which clearly indicates that it was preplanned action against him," the notice stated. The notice stated that National Human Rights Commission has sought a reply from the state government over the arrest of Singh.
"Similarly on February 7, a so-called social organisation had pelted stones at the house of journalist Malini Subramaniam in Mahaveer Nagar of Jagdalpur branding her as a naxal. "Despite 24 hours of the incident, the report was not lodged by the police," it added.
However, the government dismissed the Congress' charge.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Prabhat Singh")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}