The Mumbai Press Club has expressed strong disapproval of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments about journalists, accusing him of adopting a "high-handed attitude" towards the press. The club stated that his repeated criticisms of journalists raise concerns about how the Congress party might approach press freedom if it were to return to power.

The remarks in question were made during an election rally in Maharashtra, where Gandhi referred to some reporters as "slaves of their owners." While he noted that journalists face constraints due to their financial responsibilities, he also said, "It is not their fault. I like them. They have to work, draw salaries, fund their children's education, get food on the table, so they cannot do anything against their owners."

The Mumbai Press Club described Gandhi’s comments as "cloaked in concern" but carrying "a tone of condescension." It also highlighted that the precarious working conditions faced by journalists today are partly a result of policies implemented by previous Congress governments.

“Mr. Gandhi needs to reflect on the root causes of the struggles faced by journalists. The challenges today are largely due to rampant contractualization, a process that gained momentum under the Congress-led governments of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Before that, journalists enjoyed better rights, including unionization and improved working conditions. Contractualization, however, weakened unions and gave media houses the freedom to dismiss journalists at will, leaving them vulnerable,” the press body noted in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The club argued that if Gandhi genuinely wanted to address the plight of journalists, his focus should shift to media owners and the systemic issues within the industry. It pointed out that job insecurity and an oversupply of underemployed journalists deter many from challenging the system due to personal risks.

While acknowledging the challenges posed by the current government’s alleged authoritarian stance towards the media, the Mumbai Press Club also voiced concern over Gandhi’s frequent targeting of journalists. “If Prime Minister Narendra Modi is justifiably criticized for avoiding press conferences, Mr. Gandhi’s pattern of mocking and deriding journalists must also be called out,” it said.

The press club emphasized its commitment to defending journalists' rights, regardless of whether the violations come from ruling parties, media owners, or other sources. It called on Gandhi to adopt a more constructive approach, saying, “Democracy and the media deserve accountability and dialogue, not dismissive remarks.”