Farmers protest has revived rural journalism, says Mandeep Punia (Watch video)
Chandigarh, March 21, 202: While speaking about the role of media in the farmers' movement during an event organized by Punjab Kala Parishad, freelance journalist Mandeep Punia said that the ongoing farmers' protest has paved the way for the revival of the rural journalism in India.
Caravan journalist Punia shared that he has been in the profession for the last five years and has extensively covered rural Haryana.
“I have observed that with the farmers' protest, the Pendu Patrakarita (Rural reporting) is again reviving in the region. I think after P.Sainath who while in The Hindu extensively covered rural India, rural journalism had somehow taken a backseat. Back then rural beat was taken as a serious beat. Now, any issue related to agriculture or farmers is connected to the Agriculture ministry but the things are definitely heading in the right direction. Journalists from Punjab and Haryana state have closely and sensitively observed rural life by being with the protestors 24/7," said Mandeep Punia. "The protest has brought people of both the states closer' he added.
He said that the responsibility of the journalist is to bring things to the light that are deliberately being hidden from them. "It's not a glamorous profession. It's a profession where our job is to bring out the truth," he added.
He further said that this is a worse phase for the reporters since they are being repressed by the government at the state and central level through various means.
It is to be mentioned freelance journalist Mandeep Punia who was covering ongoing farmers’ protest at the Singhu border was arrested by the Delhi Police on January 30. He was granted bail by Delhi’s Rohini court on February 2, 2021.
An FIR registered against him under sections 186, 353, and 332 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code which is punishable with three months, three years, and two years imprisonment respectively.
"There is no possibility that accused can able to influence any of the police officials as the complainant, victims and witnesses are police personnel only. No recovery is to be affected by the accused person and keeping the accused further in judicial custody would not serve any cogent purpose. It is well settled legal principle of law that 'bail is a rule and jail is an exception,” read the order passed by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satvir Singh Lamba.
Watch Mandeep Punia speaking on the current trend of journalism: