Dear Sir,
The news item under the head “Coelho hits Indian Press freedom” that appeared on the front page of your issue dated August 28, 1987, is a classic example of journalism gone astray. It is a piece with a galore of contradictions and fictional jugglery to build up a defense for India’s indefensible gagging of the press by making the Indian Consul tell lies that can at best be described as pure bullshit. Everyone knows that the state of Punjab is virtually a police state and no foreign journalists permitted to go there and report on what he sees.
It is true that some journalists are occasionally taken there on guided tours and are offered only as much exposure as suits the government and helps to mask the truth.
Your description of Hon. CoeIho’s statement in the House of Representatives which you maliciously labeled as “non statement” and which according to you merits only “as much attention as yesterday’s weather forecast” reflects your correspondent’s sick imagination, The fact on the contrary is that the statement has created not just ripples but a storm that made you present it on the front page and that sent shivers down the spine of Indian Consul General Mr. K.K. Rana who had to connect stories to refute the contention of the Honorable Congressman. If the consul general is honest about the freedom of press in Punjab then a team of journalists is keen to go there. Let Mr. Rana officially make a statement to the effect that visa to visit Punjab will not be denied to them.
Hope you will show enough fairness to publish this letter in your next issue, Jaswant Singh c.c, World Sikh News.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 4, 1987
Article extracted from this publication >>
