FIR Lodged Against Journalist Pawan Jaiswal who Showed Rice and Salt Being Served as 'Mid-Day Meal'

Mirzapur, September 9, 2019:

A journalist in eastern Uttar Pradesh has been booked for 'criminal conspiracy' after he circulated a video that showed a primary school in the state serving rotis and salt to children as part of their 'mid-day' meal. Pawan Jaiswal, the Mirzapur reporter who broke the roti and salt in mid day meal story, has  reportedly been booked by the Mirzapur Police for allegedly conspiring against the Uttar Pradesh Government.

On August 22, Pawan Jaiswal went to a government primary school in Siur, about 22 km from Mirzapur. It was being alleged that the students were being served rotis and rice with salt as the mid-day meals for the past few months. Later, the journalist shot the video and uploaded it online, which went viral in social media.

A video is now circulating in social media circles, in which he reiterates he reported what he saw. In the video, he says that he went to the school after he found out that they were being served rotis or rice, along with salt, during their mid-day meals. "At around 12:07 pm, they were being served food with salt, and I reported what I saw. I alerted local reporters, and they conveyed the message to the DM, upon which many lost their jobs. Now, many cases have been registered against me after the case went high-profile. This is a classic example of 'attack against the press.'

Pawan Jaiswal has also demanded that the case against him be withdrawn. He has further pointed out this FIR will demotivate many like him who report from far-flung areas.

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