The article by Luke Harding in The Guardian (UK),
`Website pays price for Indian bribery expose` paints a graphic picture of the ruling coalition`s absolute hold over power in the country. While the infamous `Emergency` in India did result in an active pursuit of `erring` anti-ruling party journalists, the depth and scale of the `official` marshalling of forces against Tehelka and its founder seems to me to be little short of Machavillian. What is equally depressing is the lack of a country-wide agitiation by journalists and concerned citizens in support of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression.
For if Tehelka can be brought to its knees, the message surely is that anyone guilty of `exposing` the powers that be will be given short shrift. It is also ironic that precisely at a time when the country`s freedom of information bill is lumbering into public view, the noose has been tightened around good journalism and good journalists.
Pradip Thomas