Editors Guild issues a statement after Rahul Gandhi's attack on ANI's Smita Prakash; calls out negative labelling of journalists

Rahul Gandhi's comment of a 'pliable journalist' directed towards ANI's editor Smita Prakash following PM Modi's interview has fetched the Congress president the wrath of the fraternity. 

So much that the Editors Guild of India has raised concern over the name-calling of journalists adding up to a 'reprehensible strategy to throttle media freedoms'

Apart from Rahul Gandhi's criticism, the letter calls out BJP and AAP leaders for explicitly using expressions for journalists such as "presstitute", "news-traders", "bazaaru"(saleable commodities) or "dalals" (pimps) 

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The letter also points out how it has become a favourite tactic to 'discredit, delegitimise and intimidate' the media. 

Following the press conference, Smita Prakash expressed her discontent towards the mark that came from the "president of the oldest political party in the country"

Her tweet read, "Dear Mr. Rahul Gandhi, cheap shot at your press conference to attack me. I was asking questions not answering. You want to attack Mr Modi, go ahead but downright absurd to ridicule me. Not expected of a president of the oldest political party in the country."

This incident occurred when Rahul Gandhi cited Prime Minister's interview "staged" during his press conference after a heated debate on Rafale in the Parliament

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