The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Friday expressed concerns over the recent raids conducted by the CBI on the residences of the promoters of NDTV.
It said that NDTV has been its long-standing member.
“While the NBA maintains that no individual or institution is above the law, it condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and causing any interference in the free functioning of news operations.
“Such a move also undermines the basic tenets of free speech enshrined in the Constitution of India,” the NBA said in a statement.
The association said that it hopes that CBI will not venture into “concerted harassment” of NDTV and ensure fair and just investigation.
Media protestMeanwhile, the media fraternity gathered in Delhi to protest growing attempts to muzzle the media in the light of the CBI raids on NDTV’s promoters.
Speaking at the meet, legal luminary Falli S Nariman said protecting the ‘freedom after speech’ was more important than the ‘freedom of speech’.
“No one is immune from being prosecuted under a criminal offence. But, the circumstances and the manner in which it is conducted, gives me reason to believe all of this is an unjustified attack on press and media freedom,” Nariman said addressing a gathering of over 500 journalists.