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NATION OCTOBER 13, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

China hand behind false narrative?

Editor’s arrest raises questions

and sparks protest

Delhi Police alleges that NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha conspired to peddle the narrative that

Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are disputed territories with the help of a Shanghai-based company

OUR BUREAU the alleged “repressive” use of inves-
tigating agencies “against the media”
New Delhi
and demanding guidelines on police
n a major development, the Del- seizures of the electronic devices of
hi Police’s Special Cell, in its FIR journalists.
Iagainst NewsClick founder and The letter was written by 16 press
Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha, associations in the wake of a raid by
stated that People’s Dispatch Por- Delhi police’s Special Cell into the
tal, owned and maintained by PPK residences of journalists, editors and
Newsclick Studio Pvt. Ltd. has been writers associated with the news por-
used for intentionally peddling false tal ‘Newsclick’.
narratives through paid news in lieu “Our fear is that State actions
of crores of rupees of illegally routed against the media have been taken
foreign funds as part of a conspiracy. beyond measure, and should they be
It is further learnt that foreign allowed to continue in the direction
funds include those from big Chi- they are headed, it may be too late
nese Telecom companies such as for corrective or remedial steps. It is,
Xiaomi and Vivo, among others. therefore, our collective view that the
“Foreign funds in crores have been higher judiciary must now intervene
infused illegally in India by Indian to put an end to the increasingly re-
and Foreign entities inimical to India Senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta addresses during a protest against the arrest of news pressive use of investigating agencies
in pursuance of conspiracy with the portal NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources Head against the media,” the letter stated.
intention to disrupt the sovereignty Amit Chakraborty in an alleged terror case, at the Press Club, in New Delhi on Wednesday (ANI) The associations said that as
and territorial integrity of India, to journalists and news professionals,
cause disaffection against India and we are always ready and willing to
to threaten the unity, integrity, and not part of India. Court of Delhi allowed a plea moved cooperate with any bona fide inves-
security of India,” Delhi Police stat- The remand plea further stated by Prabir Purkayastha and Amit tigation.
ed in the FIR. that such attempts by these persons Chakravarty for the supply of a copy “However, ad hoc, sweeping sei-
Delhi Police through a remand reveal their conspiracy to peddle a of FIR to them. zures and interrogations surely can-
application on Wednesday alleged narrative, both globally and domes- not be considered acceptable in any
that NewsClick founder Prabir Pur- tically, that Kashmir and Arunachal Since April 2018, such fraud- democratic country, let alone one
kayastha conspired to peddle the nar- Pradesh are disputed territories. that has begun advertising itself as
rative that Kashmir and Arunachal “Their attempts to tinker with ulent funds in crores of ru- the ‘mother of democracy,” it added.
Pradesh are disputed territories with the northern borders of India and pees have been received by The letter has been sent by me-
the help of a Shanghai-based compa- to show Kashmir and Arunachal dia associations such as Digipub
ny. Pradesh as not parts of India in maps PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt. Ltd News India Foundation, Indian
Delhi Police informed the court amount to an act intended towards through illegal means during a Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of
through the remand application undermining the unity and territo- India, Foundation of Media Profes-
that secret inputs revealed that Pra- rial integrity of India,” Delhi Police short span of five years from sionals, National Alliance of Journal-
bir Purkayastha, Neville Roy Sing- stated. Worldwide Media Holdings LLC, ists, Network of Women in Media,
ham (said to be an active member Meanwhile, Purkayastha on Chandigarh Press Club, Delhi Union
of the Propaganda Department of Friday moved the Delhi High Court USA and others, the remand re- of Journalists, Kerala Union of
the Communist Party of China) and seeking the quashing of FIR regis- port stated. Working Journalists, Brihanmumbai
some other Chinese employees of tered against him and others. His Union of Journalists, Free Speech
Neville Roy Singham-owned Shang- plea also challenged a trial court or- Collective Mumbai, Mumbai Press
hai-based Company by the name of der granting remand to him and HR But several media associations Club, Arunachal Pradesh Union of
StarStream have exchanged emails Head Amit Chakravarty in the mat- have written to the Chief Justice of Working Journalists, Press Associ-
which expose their intent to show ter. India DY Chandrachud seeking the ation of India and Guwahati Press
Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as On Thursday, Patiala House court’s intervention to put an end to Club.

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