By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: Acting swiftly on the complaint filed by the ruling BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has filed an FIR against noted TV journalist Vinod Dua under sections 290 (public nuisance), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and 505 (2).
In the FIR, Kumar alleged that Dua has “misreported” the February North East Delhi riots and the protests against the new citizenship law (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and blamed the Prime Minister, Home Minister and BJP’s Kapil Mishra for the communal violence. However, Dua said he was not officially contacted by the Delhi Police yet as he got the FIR news through some media outlets and social media. He said they (BJP) cannot browbeat those journalists who dared to hold mirror to the present government and the ruling party leaders.
In the complaint, Kumar claimed, “Dua, a known India media personality, committed offence of public nuisance, mischief, printing and engraving matters known to be defamatory, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace…”
Kumar referred to one of the episodes of Dua’s Youtube show called ‘The Vinod Dua Show’, where he talks about former Congressman Jyotiraditya Scindia joining BJP, with Kumar calling his remarks “degrading”.
BJP spokesperson further alleged that, “There are also a series of old instances where bizarre and unfounded allegations have been made against the government, police and political leaders. The reporting is full of false content misleading context.”
Dua, who is a known critic of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government policies, told Muslim Mirror that the Delhi police did not contact him officially to him and he came to know about the FIR from social media and some media organizations.
“I haven’t been contacted by the Delhi Police yet, but I did see a tweet by Kumar about it,” Dua said.
When asked how does he see the development? Dua said he couldn’t say anything right now as he was not approached by the Police yet and he did not see the copy of the FIR to comment upon it.
However, he said, “We will fight it and face this onslaught on the freedom of the press.”
Right now, I can’t say, Kumar filed the complaint on his for the sake of publicity or he had acted on someone’s behalf, he said and adding that
“Once the police approach him, he will take the next course of action.”
After the news broke, members from the journalist fraternity came out in support of Dua and termed it as an attack on the freedom of press.
Senior TV journalist Aushtosh said in his tweet that “The registering of FIR is nothing but to muzzle the voice of freedom and press.”
“FIR against Vend Due. One of the iconic journalists and the very best this country has produced. As per FIR he is threat to the nation, if so then every journalist is. This is nothing but to muzzle the voice of freedom and press.
विनोद दुआ और आकार पटेल के ख़िलाफ़ एफ़आईआर दर्ज https://t.co/BrdOgJZVKN
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) June 6, 2020
Echoing similar sentiments, Saba Naqvi said it is meant to intimidate journalists who questions government policies and critical of them.
Following several other cases of media intimidation and arrest of scribes. Asking questions, critiquing government policies is best form of journalism. Please don’t diminish us further on press freedom indices.
https://mobile.twitter.com/_sabanaqvi/status/1269178059887751168
She said the FIR against Dua was lodged a day before when Karnataka Police has registered an FIR against Aakar Patel who is noted journalist, writer and human rights activist, for his post on Twitter quoting a tweet by one of the US media houses.
FIR against Dua was registered on June 4 who runs his You Tube Channel HW news.