Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 14, 2024 — An India Today journalist has faced allegations of harassment in the United States, with Congress workers implicated in the incident. This controversy has prompted a strong response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has criticized the Congress party in a recent speech.
Reports stated that a journalist from India Today, Rohit Sharma, was assaulted by Congress workers last week in Dallas, Texas, during Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US. Sharma had traveled to cover the visit and was attacked after raising a question about the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Sharma was interviewing Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda at the DFW International Airport when he asked if Rahul Gandhi would address the issue of Hindus being killed in Bangladesh during his meetings with US lawmakers. The question triggered a hostile reaction from 20-30 Congress supporters present at the scene.
The supporters created chaos, assaulted Sharma, seized his phone, and deleted the video of the interview. Despite Pitroda’s attempt to downplay the situation by stating it was up to Gandhi and the lawmakers to decide on relevant issues, the Congress workers forcibly stopped the recording and deleted the footage.
Sharma recounted the ordeal, describing how the workers, who checked his phone and iCloud, made desperate efforts to erase any trace of the interview. He initially resisted but was ultimately forced to delete the interview. Despite considering involving the police, Sharma opted to notify Pitroda, who suggested rescheduling the interview, though it never materialized.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions and issues related to press freedom, especially regarding sensitive topics. The attack on Sharma, who was performing his journalistic duties, has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the treatment of journalists covering political events.