Attack on scribes: Katju threatens action against state govt

Press council chairman Markandeya Katju, on Wednesday, issued a show-cause notice to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan over attacks on journalists and threatened to recommend the dismissal of the government to the President.

Press council chairman Markandeya Katju, on Wednesday, issued a show-cause notice to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan over attacks on journalists and threatened to recommend the dismissal of the government to the President.

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Katju wrote to Chavan on Wednesday after a delegation of journalists from Maharashtra apprised him of a large number of attacks on journalists/media houses. "I was informed that in the last ten years, over 800 journalists were physically attacked, while in the last two and half years 213 journalists were attacked by political workers and anti-social elements," the letter said.

Katju said that he had written two letters to Chavan but there was no response from the government. "Did I not even deserve the courtesy of a reply?" he asked.

Katju further asked Chavan to show cause as to why he should not recommend to the President of India to dismiss his government under Article 356 of the Constitution as the government has failed to uphold the freedom of the press guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (a). "Please give a reply to this letter within three weeks from today after which I will take such action as is fit in the circumstances."

CM's office said that it had not received the letter yet.