Facing threats is part of a journalist's duty to truth

Fearless like warriors, journalists too must confront threats to truth and integrity.

- ALOK MEHTA

A famous song from the classic film Mughal-e-Azam says, "Pyaar kiya to darna kya"—if you love, why fear? Society often echoes this sentiment: whether it is love or war, fear has no place. This also applies to professions such as medicine and journalism. Just like surgeons must not fear when performing an operation, journalists cannot afford fear when reporting facts or presenting opinions.

When a soldier is posted on the heights of Kargil or in the deserts of Rajasthan, he doesn't ask for extra safety arrangements—he simply fulfills his duty. I believe the same ideal applies to media professionals: working without fear and being prepared to take risks when necessary is part of the job.

Recently, there has been uproar in some Indian states where journalists, cartoonists, independent writers, and activists have faced legal action by local administrations. Some foreign organizations have exaggerated the situation, suggesting that India is experiencing such pressure on media for the first time. However, this is far from the truth. Over the decades, both the print and electronic media have faced legal actions, political threats, and even physical intimidation. The records of the Press Council of India, the Editors Guild, journalist unions, and courts are filled with such incidents.

Of course, it is condemnable to intimidate journalists or file false cases against them or attack media houses. Such actions must be restrained and punished. At the same time, the Supreme Court has clarified that misuse of freedom of expression is also unacceptable. In recent cases, the court has ruled against police action, proving that even today, it's possible to do factual, critical journalism in India.