Says Tejpal should face law if found guilty
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa Union of Journalists has demanded a thorough inquiry into the alleged molestation of a junior journalist by former editor in chief of Tehelka Tarun Tejpal during the Think Fest, held in Goa.
“If found guilty, he should not be given any special concessions on account of being a journalist, but should face the full wrath of the law,” Kishore Naik Gaonkar, President, Goa Union of Journalists said in a press release, adding that the Police should in the course of their inquiry bring out the truth and if found guilty begin to prosecute the accused journalist.
“This is absolutely necessary in order to restore the faith of women journalists, who are today a crucial part of the fourth estate, that perpetrators of such acts of violence against women, do not go scot free on account of their positions,” says the communique.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and its Gender and Ethics Council, has strongly condemned the vigilantism of some BJP workers led by Vijay Jolly.
“These self appointed custodians of morality arrived at Tehelka’s ex-Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary’s residence and in full view of TV cameras Jolly painted the word ‘Accused’ on her nameplate, also painting a thick arrow pointing to her name,” says a communiqué by Sujata Madhok and SK Pande, president and general secretary of DUJ.
“The DUJ wishes to underline that this is not a matter of hurt sentiments but that of rowdyism, hooliganism and lumpenism. After the protest at Tehelka office, the needless attack on Choudhary’s residence was a cheap publicity stunt,” says the communiqué referring to the apology and hurt sentiments.
DUJ has also urged the media to curb its ‘over the top’ coverage of the issue, avoid sensationalism and desist from conducting a medial trial of Tejpal and Chaudhary, it said adding, “The DUJ believes that the law should be allowed to take its course impartially, without excessive pressure from either the media or politicos.”
