NEW DELHI – Authorities’ attempt to charge an Indian journalist who exposedthe poor quality of meals served at a government school triggered protestson Tuesday over fears of worsening press freedom in the country.

Pawan Jaiswal made national headlines after reporting that impoverishedprimary school students in a district in Uttar Pradesh state were fed breadwith salt instead of a mandated healthy meal.

The report led to widespread criticism of the local government controlledby Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whichresponded by launching a criminal probe against Jaiswal.

“It is a cruel and classic case of shooting the messenger,” the EditorsGuild of India said in a statement on Monday.

“It is shocking that instead of taking action to fix what is wrong on theground, the government has filed criminal cases against the journalist.”

Dozens of journalists shouted slogans outside the district office onTuesday, demanding that the investigation of Jaiswal be called off.

Journalists in India have complained of deteriorating media freedoms andvicious online attacks over the past few years in the world’s largestdemocracy.

Laws have frequently been deployed by politicians from all parties seekingto stifle social media criticism.

Earlier this year, a ruling party activist was arrested for posting a memeon opposition West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She was laterreleased on bail by the Supreme Court.

A journalist in northeastern Manipur state was jailed last year forallegedly criticising the state’s BJP chief minister and Modi. -APP/AFP