MUMBAI: News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has requested Maharashtra chief minister to drop charges against ABP journalist Rahul Gurunath Kulkarni. NBA president Rajat Sharma requested to adopt the recourse of filing a complaint before the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).

In the letter addressed to the CM, Rajat Sharma wrote: “We write on behalf of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), which is the apex body of news broadcasters and represents the private television news & current affairs broadcasters. It is the collective voice of the news & current affairs broadcasters in India. The fraternity is in an extreme state of shock and anguish with respect to the recent unreasonable arrest of a senior journalist Rahul Gurunath Kulkarni of ABP Majha Channel. The FIR is based upon some reports which purported to draw the connection between the gathering at Mumbai Bandra West station and a news story by him.”

While condemning the unreasonable arrest, NBA said that it is a serious infringement on the right of freedom of speech and is a frontal assault on the freedom of press.

“The fundamental right of freedom of speech is sought to be gagged and any further custody and incarceration of him would be a serious infraction of the constitutional mandate and would also threaten his life. As an association we believe in promoting excellence in broadcasting standards and all the members are governed by a Code of Ethics, Broadcasting Standards and Self-Regulation,” said the letter.