MUMBAI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has expressed grave concern over the tendency among certain sections of people to resort to abuses and threats against anchors and reporters working in news channels. 

A NBA release said that particular trend has been noticed after the electronic media recently exposed the role of Tablighi Jamaat in spreading Coronavirus, resulting in a nationwide spurt in the number of positive cases and subsequent deaths. 

Anchors and reporters working in news channels are being specifically targeted through social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok and Twitter. 

There have been videos on social media in which some religious preachers can be seen naming some TV news anchors and threatening attacks on the reporters of those channels.

The NBA strongly deplored this pernicious trend in a section of society and appealed to the government and law enforcing agencies to take immediate preventive action against such anti-social elements. 

The association said that the electronic media has done exemplary work in reporting Coronavirus pandemic in India during the current lockdown and the overall tenor of reporting has been fair, accurate and balanced. All sections of society have been given fair representation on TV debates on Coronavirus pandemic.

The association has called upon religious fundamentalists to desist from issuing open threats and making insinuations against news channels. Such activities violate the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, as enshrined in our Constitution.

“News channels are available to all sections of society including the fundamentalists. NBA would like these leaders to come forward and clear their stand on the role of Tablighi Jamaat in spreading the Coronavirus,” said NBA release signed by president Rajat Sharma.