The alleged mistreatment of an television journalist Rohit Sharma in Dallas by the Indian Overseas Congress workers might have violated his rights under the First Amendment that protects freedom of the press in the US, the National Press Club (NPC) here has said.
Sharma, who is based in Washington DC, claimed he was pushed by a group last week when he was on an assignment for India Today group in Dallas, Texas, to cover the maiden US visit of Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition.
Sharma claimed he was abruptly asked to stop interviewing Gandhi's close aide Sam Pitroda when the incident happened.
In a statement on Monday Emily Wilkins, president of the National Press Club, said Sharma’s mistreatment violated the First Amendment rights.
Wilkins said the interview was done professionally with Pitroda and Sharma, who is a member of the National Press Club, agreeing to recording.
"Security staff must be aware that reporters working in the US are protected by the First Amendment, regardless of the nationality of the interview subject, reporter or security teams. This was an on-the-record interview with ground rules set between Sharma and Pitroda," Wilkins said.
"Several members of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) were listening to the interview as well as several members of Gandhi's advance staff. On the last question, members of the audience objected to the subject of the question and stopped the interview by shouting at Sharma and pushing him while taking his phone away.
“The group, which included Gandhi's staff, deleted files from Sharma's phone and kept it from him,” the NPC president said.
Pitroda later apologised to the reporter, the statement said, according to PTI.
With more than 2,500 members representing nearly every major news organisation, the NPC is a leading voice for press freedom in the US and worldwide.
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