Who is Journalist Naresh Vats assaulted in Kejriwal's press conference?

On 26 April, a joint press conference of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was held at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi. Senior journalist Naresh Vats, who has been doing journalism in Punjab for two decades, was stopped by the Punjab Police from attending the press conference. He also showed the accreditation card of the Press Information Bureau. Despite this, he was stopped. When Naresh Vats protested, the Punjab Police personnel assaulted him.

Press Club of India has tweeted directly tagging Chief Minister Kejriwal that 48 hours have passed since the thrashing of senior journalist Naresh Vats by Punjab Police but Aam Aadmi Party National Convener @ArvindKejriwal has not ordered to take action against the culprits. The Press Club of India condemns this action of the Punjab Police.

48 घंटे बीत चुके है वरिष्ठ पत्रकार नरेश वत्स की पंजाब पुलिस द्वारा की गई पिटाई को लेकिन आम आदमी पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय संयोजक @ArvindKejriwal ने दोषियों के खिलाफ कार्रवाई करने के आदेश नही दिए। पंजाब पुलिस की इस कार्रवाई का प्रैस क्लब ऑफ इंडिया इसकी निंदा करता है।

— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) April 28, 2022

Who is Naresh Vats?

Naresh Vats has been doing journalism for the last two and a half decades. He has also served in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and PIB.

Vats says that the policemen not only abused him but also assaulted him. He also complained to the Public Relations Department of the Punjab Government but no response has come from there.

Chandigarh Press Club said that this is a direct attack on the freedom of the press. Stopping a journalist from doing his job is an attack on freedom of expression. Strict action should be taken against the officer of the Punjab Police.

Strongly condemn the attack on Chandigarh based senior journalist Naresh Vats by Punjab Police in Delhi during the signing of "Memorandum of Surrender" by @BhagwantMann with @ArvindKejriwal. This is a clear case of AAP abusing power to silence voice of the people. pic.twitter.com/0YYCUeFnXf

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) April 28, 2022

After this incident, the opposition is also attacking the AAP government. Condemning the incident, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Badal said that Naresh Vats is a senior journalist. It is sad that such an incident happened to him. Aam Aadmi Party is using its powers to suppress the voice of the people.

Also Read

• Press Council forms panel to probe journalists’ harassment in J&K
• India drop from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly Free’ in freedom index

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