Outcry in Madhya Pradesh: Congress Leader Slams 'Fake News' Arrests of Journalists

A wave of concern has swept across Madhya Pradesh's media and political circles following the detention of two journalists from Rewa, Kanishk Tiwari and Siddharth Mishra. The arrests, allegedly over a 'fake news' report about a bus accident, have drawn sharp condemnation from senior Congress leader and former minister Jitu Patwari, who decried the move as a blatant assault on press freedom.

The controversy stems from the journalists' reportage on a tragic bus accident in Rewa, where a vehicle carrying BJP workers overturned.

Initial reports from the detained journalists claimed eight fatalities. However, police officials later clarified that while two lives were lost and 30 individuals sustained injuries, the higher death toll was inaccurate. This discrepancy formed the basis for their detention, leading to accusations of disseminating 'fake news'.

Jitu Patwari, addressing the issue with fervor, questioned the motivations behind the police action.

"Is it because the accident involved BJP workers that the police swiftly acted against the journalists?" he posited, hinting at potential political pressure influencing law enforcement. Patwari further alleged that the journalists were detained from the very police station where they had gone to gather information and cover the incident, a move he labeled as a direct attack on the fourth pillar of democracy.

The Congress leader didn't mince words, stating that such actions are symptomatic of an authoritarian regime attempting to stifle dissent and conceal its failings.

"The BJP government is increasingly resorting to dictatorial tactics, attempting to silence any voice that exposes its corruption and incompetence," Patwari asserted, drawing parallels to similar incidents in other BJP-ruled states where journalists have faced harassment for critical reporting.

Patwari demanded the immediate release of Kanishk Tiwari and Siddharth Mishra, emphasizing that their detention without proper due process constitutes a grave injustice.

He also called for stern action against the police officers responsible for what he described as a high-handed and undemocratic arrest, urging authorities to uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression and ensure the safety of journalists in the state.