13 May 2024: In a disturbing incident that underscores the fragility of press freedom in India, journalist Raghav Trivedi, associated with the digital platform Molitics, was viciously assaulted and allegedly confined by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers while covering Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. Trivedi’s ordeal began when he approached several women at the rally who claimed they had been paid Rs 100 to attend and were unfamiliar with Shah. Upon questioning BJP workers about these allegations, he was confronted, coerced to delete video evidence, and subjected to a brutal assault.
Trivedi recounted the harrowing experience, describing how he was forcibly taken to a secluded area by a group of assailants who demanded the deletion of recorded statements. Despite his refusal, the attack ensued, leaving him battered and unconscious until he regained consciousness in a hospital. An FIR has been filed against six unidentified individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint lodged by Trivedi’s colleague and cameraperson, Sanjeet Sahni.
The gravity of the situation was captured in a video of the assault, where police personnel can be seen in the vicinity but fail to intervene, prompting criticism of law enforcement’s inaction. Trivedi further revealed that the attackers hurled anti-Muslim epithets while subjecting him to a barrage of blows, highlighting the disturbing nexus between physical violence and religious animosity.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties, political leaders, and senior journalists, who decried the assault as an affront to press freedom and democratic principles. The Congress party attributed such incidents to the BJP’s frustration over impending electoral defeat, signaling a growing intolerance towards dissenting voices.
Moreover, the assault on Trivedi casts a shadow over India’s standing in the global press freedom landscape, with the country ranking a dismal 159 out of 176 nations in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Reporters Without Borders, the organization behind the index, denounced India’s position as unworthy of a democracy, highlighting the urgent need for safeguarding journalistic integrity and freedom of expression.
In response to the incident, the Press Club of India issued a vehement condemnation, calling for strict action against the perpetrators and urging electoral authorities to uphold the sanctity of press freedom. The attack serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by journalists in the line of duty, where intimidation, harassment, and physical violence threaten to undermine the cornerstone of democracy.
As India grapples with mounting challenges to press freedom, the assault on Raghav Trivedi serves as a clarion call for concerted efforts to protect journalists’ rights and uphold the principles of free and independent media.
