THE Delhi state committees of the Left parties (CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), RSP, AIFB and CGPI) organised a protest demonstration on October 10 at Jantar Mantar against the brazen attempt to silence the media that is critical of the Modi government. The demonstration which saw the participation of hundreds of people from all walks of life demanded in one voice the immediate release of those journalists arrested under UAPA and an end to the RSS-BJP attacks against free media.

Speaking at the occasion, Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) said the RSS-BJP led government at the centre have taken the illegal UAPA route to circumvent the HC protection to these journalists after the ED-CBI-IB conspiracy to frame them fell flat without any proof. She added that the nationwide spontaneous protests against their arrests also pricked the governmental propaganda packed with lies against the NewsClick. She said the arrest of Prabir Purkayastha who served jail term during emergency and made significant contributions to building scientific temper was an unconscionable act of the Modi government. Amarjeet Kaur (CPI), G Devarajan (AIFB), Ravi Rai (CPI-ML), RS Dagar (RSP), Prakash Rao (CGPI) also spoke. KM Tiwari, CPI(M) Delhi secretary,  presided over the meeting.