New Delhi: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) expresses deep concern over an FIR being registered against reputed independent journalist Ajit Anjum in Begusarai district of Bihar, going to polls in October-November. The FIR was registered at Balia police station on July 13 following a complaint by a booth level officer (BLO) accusing Anjum of spreading false information about Muslim voters during ongoing electoral revision exercise. On X Anjum posted: a “Muslim BLO is being used as a scapegoat against me”.
On his YouTube channel, having millions of viewers, Anjum had on July 12 showed massive irregularities in voter list in Sahebpur Kamal assembly constituency, as part of his ground report investigating the Special Intensive Revision campaign underway in Balia. It questioned Election Commission’s claims over transparency of process. Many voter forms are seen being filled/ uploaded without requisite documents/ photographs and report features conversations with Balia BLO and supervisor. The video states over 80% of those from “Muslim-majority” booths have submitted forms with proper documentation and BLO is seen clarifying that claims about Bangladeshis or Rohingyas being listed as voters are false.
The district administration dismissed these claims as “baseless”, “misleading”, and intended to “incite public sentiment”. The BLO filed a complaint alleging while he was uploading data using BLO app, Anjum began asking questions about Muslim voters in the area and his ‘focus was on the claim that Muslim voter is being harassed which is absolutely false.’ Responds Anjum: “An FIR has been filed against me…Watch the video and decide for yourself if I said anything to that Muslim BLO that could possibly disturb communal harmony. When they couldn’t find anything else, they chose this route. A Muslim BLO is being used as a scapegoat against me. Instead of answering the questions raised in the video, the administration is resorting to intimidation. Let me just say this – I am still in Begusarai. And if needed, I will take this fight all the way to the Supreme Court. I will not be afraid.”
In a statement, IJU President and former member of Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists, Sabina Inderjit said that Anjum is a highly respected journalist doing in-depth reportage on various critical issues. Clearly, his report has caused much embarrassment to government and ECI. Instead of making amends, they are resorting to the usual tactics of harassment and intimidation. Elections are bedrock of democracy and it’s the media’s responsibility as well to report these being free and fair. Anjum was doing his duty and the IJU demands that the FIR against him be withdrawn, and the authorities refrain from bullying journalists and seeking to silence them
