MUMBAI, 22 July 2007 — Concerned over the growing links of scribes from Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and those based in the Gulf countries with underworld gangsters, terrorist organizations and politicians of neighboring countries, the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of Maharashtra and Mumbai police with the cooperation of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officials based in Indian missions in the Gulf, have now increased the surveillance of the suspected scribes, said sources in the state Home Department.
“The e-mails, landline phones, and cell phones are being monitored of the suspected scribes. Dossiers are being prepared on journalists based in Gulf, who are in touch with government officials and politicians of India’s neighboring countries, and their visits to the ‘hostile’ countries. Even phone calls made by the Indian scribes based abroad to their homes would be monitored, and even they would be under surveillance during their home visits in India. The scribes would be ‘grilled’ and detained if any suspicious details are found by the police,” said the sources.
The surveillance on the scribes had valid reasons for the security agencies to keep an eye on them, and the situation forced them to be “extra cautious” on the scribes and other media personnel following last week’s revelation about a reporter of a news channel allegedly having links with Chhota Shakeel and other elements in Dubai and Karachi.
“The security of the country is our top priority and there cannot be any compromise on this issue. Freedom of speech and expression does not entitle anyone including scribes to maintain links with underworld dons or suspected elements of hostile countries, and those indulging in this can only be classified as anti-national people,” said a senior police official.
Joint Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria was most vocal and forthcoming on the issue and said, “Nobody will be allowed to take advantage of a press identity card. The police would give accreditation to certain scribes only after examining their antecedents,” he added The president of the Mumbai Reporters Association Prabhakar Pawar, agreed with Maria, and said that the police were performing their duty and their action was for the security of everyone. And no one should have a problem with this. Pawar further pointed out that the association had voluntarily decided two years ago to issue identity cards to reporters who visit the police headquarters regularly.
“Security measures are necessary and the police are free to take all possible steps for that,” he added
In another development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hinted at severing ties with its long time ally Shiv Sena. Speaking at a meeting of party office-bearers from Mumbai, Konkan and western Maharashtra in Pune yesterday, state BJP President Nitin Gadkari broadly spoke about the imminent end with the Shiv Sena.
Gadkari urged the BJP party workers to be mentally and fully prepared to fight the next elections to the Parliament and assembly on their own. “The BJP will fight all the 288 assembly seats on its own,” Gadkari said and added that before the saffron alliance came into existence in Maharashtra some two decades ago, the BJP was in a much stronger position in state politics.
Gadkari also announced that the BJP would launch a state-wide “Quit Maharashtra” protest against the Congress-NCP led Democratic Front government on Aug. 9, the day when “Quit India” movement was initiated by the Indians against the British rulers.
