New Delhi, February 12 Two journalist bodies on Thursday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning the impartiality of media personnel and said that political leaders should use "respectful language" towards journalists.
This came after Gandhi asked media personnel in the Parliament complex to remain objective in their work.
"You are not entirely beholden to the BJP. At least, try to be objective. It's really shameful. It's too much. Don't you think?" the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha told reporters when they approached him for his reaction on the treasury benches considering to move a privilege motion against him for his recent speech on the Union Budget in the House.
"You are responsible people. You are media people. You have a responsibility to be objective. You can't just take whatever they give you. Right? Every day. And, base your entire operation on that. You are disserving this country," Gandhi said and asked the reporters, "Are you not able to recognize that?"
Condemning Gandhi's "behavior" with the reporters, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Delhi Journalist Association (DJA), in a joint statement, said that political leaders should use "respectful language towards journalists in public forums and especially in a dignified place like Parliament."
"The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha targeting and insulting media personnel in such a manner in the Parliament House complex is highly condemnable," NUJ president Ras Bihar said in the statement.
"Such statements are an attack on press freedom," he said, adding, "The media exists to protect democracy, not to serve any political party's agenda."
In the joint statement, DJA president Rakesh Thapliyal and general secretary Pramod Kumar Singh said the primary purpose of journalism is to "question power" and provide accurate information to the public.
"For any responsible leader to associate the media with a particular party is tantamount to undermining their professional dignity," it added.
