Punjab journalist attacked in Canada, scribe union seeks safety of journalists
Chandigarh / Hyderabad, 3 October : Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has condemned the assault on a radio channel Red FM Calgary journalist Rishi Nagar in Canada terming it as an attack on the freedom of the press and
expression.
An Indo-Canadian newsperson, Nagar originally hails from Shankar village of jullunder district Punjab. Indian Journalists Union (IJU) President K Sreenivas Reddy, Secretary General Balwinder Jammu said Nagar was attacked in a parking lot on Sunday when he was leaving an election-related event in Calgary. Jammu said: "In this attack, Nagar received injuries to his left eye and right leg. Two attackers, who have now been arrested, were upset with Nagar over his report related to an incident in a gurdwara in Calgary.”
They said the attack was all the more barbarous since the attempt to muzzle the press was made by those people who themselves are enjoying freedom of expression in the democratic Canadian society. Punjab & Chandigarh
Journalists Union President Balbir Jandu, acting President Jai Singh Chhibber said the attackers seemed to have lost their wits as Nagar too is entitled the same amount of freedom which they, as members of a minority, are enjoying in
a multi-cultural and multi-faith Canadian society.
The union leaders said: “All those believing in democratic and civil rights should come forward to seek stern action against the assaulters who first posed friendly and then attacked the journalist in the parking lot. ” The union has also urged the authorities in India and Canada to ensure the safety of journalists in
both countries.