Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) Call India Today’s Defamation Suit Against Newslaundry an Attack on Free Speech
Image Courtesy: The Samikhsya
In a press release today, the Delhi Union of Journalists(DUJ) expressed shock at the IndiaToday group’s “attack on free speech” , when they filed a lawsuit that sought Rs 2 crore in damages from the independent news portal, Newslaundry, for what they alleged as copyright violation and defamation.
The defamation suit was filed nearly a month after Newslaundry claimed that YouTube froze its channel in response to the India Today Group’s multiple complaints of copyright violation. However, Newslaundry had denied IndiaToday’s claim of copyright violations and stated that they were being targeted and pressured so that they stop their work.
In the Press Release, the DUJ praised the independent media house’s “unique fashion” of presenting critical analysis of the media along with information.
“We applaud its frank and fearless approach at a time when the majority of the media merely cheerleads the government and ruling party’s events and actions. It is ridiculous that the use of materials of the TV Today channels to critique these should be termed ‘copyright violations’.” they said in the press release
The DUJ further alleged that the India Today Group, in their lawsuit, sought to restrict Newslaundry from “writing, tweeting or publishing” anything defamatory about its channels, anchors and management
The DUJ asserted in their press release about their repeated demands to repeal defamation laws that are misused to curb functioning of the media. They expressed their shock at the usage of “intimidatory tactics” by the IndiaToday group against Newslaundry, a “small website”.
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