Free speech in the crosshairs

The government of Uttar Pradesh has made it a habit of sorts to move against - or better still, lock up - mediapersons who give cause for displeasure

Every democracy has a few dark corners, a few undemocratic lapses. But one has to start worrying about its fate when there is a clear pattern of aggression against one of its most important pillars — freedom of the press. Last week, the Uttar Pradesh police charged journalist Pawan Jaiswal with criminal conspiracy, cheating and providing false evidence after he did a video report of children being served only rotis and salt for their mid-day meal at a primary school in Seur in Mirzapur. The video clip went viral, and while we learnt of this shame, this abomination of children