Attempt to throttle media

The attack on media must stop. The vandalism by the Shiv Sainik goons at the IBN-Lokmat offices at Vikhroli in Northeast Mumbai and Pune is the open display of goondaism. In democracy, press is the fourth pillar of the government.
After the humiliating defeat in the just concluded Maharashtra assembly elections, the Shiv Sena is acting in desperation. The IBN-Lokmat office was attacked for the anti-Bal Thackeray reportage. It means voice of dissent is completely intolerable for the Shiv Sainiks.
One the one hand the Shiv Saina claims to be the champion of Marathi manoos, they attack Marathi and Hindi channel and Marathi staffers only because they are performing their professional duty honestly and sincerely. Shiv Sainik goons entered the IBN-Lokmat office and pulled woman receptionist by hair and broke her hairclip. They broke the TVs and other instruments in the office and started scuffling with the staffers in the newsroom. Is this the way of protecting and espousing the cause of Maharashtrians?
It is not the first time that Media have been targeted by the Shiv Sainiks. In the past, they have attacked Marathi channel of Zee TV, Star news Channel and several others in Mumbai. And if the past is anything to go by, the recent attack on the prominent media house will be treated softly by the state government. But the assurance given by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to media persons that the government will not spare any one who promotes violence in the society. It will not be a mute spectator. His assurance has given hope to media persons that the government this time will act against the hooligans. So far 17 Shiv Sainiks were arrested and all were remanded to police custody.
But the government must brought the ring leader who inspired violence against the media house. Ring leader of the Shiv Sainik goons is reportedly Saina’s mouthpiece Saamna Editor and MP Sanjay Raut’s brother Sunil Raut, who had unsuccessfully contested in the recently concluded assembly elections. The Police are on look out for him. He must be brought to book at all costs and government must make arrangement for security of the media establishments in the country. Press is the voice of the people and journalists deliver their duty honestly by presenting the true picture about any incident and development without any bias before the people. That is why they are the mirrors of society. Display of fascism by the Shiv Sainiks must stopped by the government. The state government must not show any leniency in dealing with the Shiv Sainik goons and their ring leader. How nonsensical the Shiv Sainiks talk when they say that the attack on IBN-Lokmat office is the spontaeneous reactions. They can neither tolerate criticism of Shiv Saina nor of their supreme boss Bal Thackeray.