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India: Mumbai Press Club condemns Sanathan Sanstha threats against scribe

21 September 2015

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From: "Mumbai Press Club" secretary[at]pressclubmumbai.com
Date: 21-Sep-2015 4:18 pm

Mumbai Press Club notes with serious concern the Sanatan Sansthna targeting Shaymsundar Sonnar, a senior journalist with a Marathi newspaper ’Prahaar’ and senior journalist Nikhil Wagle.

In view of arrests of people associated with Sanatan Prabhat in connection with veteran secularist and Leftist leader Comrade Govind Pansare’s murder, Sonnar has filed a formal police complaint and has asked the police for protection for him and his family from the right wing organisation.

Sanatan Prabhat wrote an article targeting Sonnar for his interpretation of
Sant Tukaram’s pro-science preaching. Sonnar is a vaarkari preacher who is invited by people across Maharashtra for kirtans and public speeches. His rationalist views are very much appreciated and well accepted. The newspaper’s article which appeared on Sept 1, 2015, spat venom against the senior journalist and called him anti-Hindu.

Nikhil Wagle, a senior journalist, is also under threat. He is getting threat from Sanatan Sanstha since 2011. Maharashtra police has also found that Nikhil’s name was mentioned regularly in the telephonic conversation between arrested Samir Gaikwad and some other members of Sanatan Sanstha including absconder Rudra Patil. Mumbai police officials recently met Nikhil and requested him for the police protection. Nikhil has refused security as it will hamper his journalistic activities.

The Mumbai Press Club fully stands behind Sonnar and Wagle and his family members and calls upon the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Government to take serious note of it.

Secretary

Mumbai Press Club

September 20, 2015