A joint protest march is set to take place tomorrow, August 27, in Delhi to oppose the cases filed by the Assam Police against three renowned journalists: Siddharth Varadarajan, Karan Thapar, and Abhisar Sharma. The demonstration, led by the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), will culminate at Assam Bhawan on Sardar Patel Marg.
The Assam Police have registered cases against the journalists under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. This provision is widely regarded as a revamped version of the colonial-era sedition law.
Two separate cases have been filed against Varadarajan and Thapar. The first stems from an article published in The Wire, which allegedly contained comments on Indian Army operations. The second case is linked to remarks made during an interview conducted by Thapar, featuring the late Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik and Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi.
Additionally, a case was lodged against Sharma on August 21 at the Guwahati Crime Branch. Sharma had criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a YouTube video, accusing him of engaging in communal politics. Police authorities claim the comments could incite communal sentiments and disrespect the elected government.
The Supreme Court has already provided interim protection to Varadarajan and Thapar from arrest or any coercive actions in both cases, with the next hearing scheduled for September 15.
These developments have sparked widespread outrage within the journalistic community. Organizations such as the Press Club of India (PCI), Digipub News India Foundation, and others have condemned the cases as an assault on press freedom and demanded their immediate withdrawal. The PCI specifically criticized the case against Sharma, stating that it undermines the independence of journalism.
Tomorrow’s protest aims to highlight allegations that these cases represent an attempt to suppress freedom of expression. Leaders from DUJ and KUWJ emphasized that the rally will unite journalists in solidarity against the Assam government’s actions, calling for greater protections for media professionals.