Drop OSA charges against journalist, demand media groups

New Delhi April 5 (IANS) The Indian Women s Press Corps and the Press Club of India on Wednesday condemned the levelling of charges under the Official Secrets Act against a journalist from The Quint who had tried to expose the Sahayak system in the army.

In a joint media statement the two media organisations also demanded that the invocation of the OSA against the journalist be withdrawn.

We condemn the leveling of charges against The Quint reporter Poonam Agarwal under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and of abetment to suicide the two organisations said.

It is clear that she wanted to expose the Sahayak practice in the Army and not compromise national security in any manner. The reporter has already stated that she had obtained the Army s version to the story.

Clearly information obtained by her is not likely to cast any aspersion on the integrity of the country. We feel that OSA s invocation against her is unwarranted and it should be withdrawn said the joint statement.

--IANS
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