The US State Department has issued a profound tribute to Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui after his death while covering the fighting in Afghanistan. The reaction from the US came amidst mounting criticism for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for their silence on the death of a globally renowned Indian journalist.
Speaking to reporters, US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said, “We are deeply saddened to hear that Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering fighting in Afghanistan. Mr. Siddiqui was celebrated for his work on some of the world’s most urgent and challenging news stories and for creating striking images that conveyed a wealth of emotion and the face – and the human face behind the headlines.”
Porter added, “His brilliant reporting on the Rohingya refugee crisis earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 2018. Siddiqui’s death is a tremendous loss, not only for Reuters and for his media colleagues, but also for the rest of the world. Far too many journalists have been killed in Afghanistan. We continue to call for an end to the violence. A just and durable peace settlement is the only way forward in Afghanistan.”
Danish, who singlehandedly drew global attention to the mismanagement of this year’s pandemic by the Indian government using his camera this year, was killed in an attack from Taliban fighters in Kandahar on Friday. While Hindutva fanatics shockingly celebrated the journalist’s death because of his Muslim faith, PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar faced condemnation for their ‘petty’ behaviour as both of them refused to express their condolences.
Our PM sent a letter to a TV anchor who’s mother passed away but no words for a #Pullitzer winner photojournalist who was killed doing his duty? #DanishSiddique
Why Sir?— Sayema (@_sayema) July 17, 2021
सिंपल है
वो न तो मोदीवादी था
न ‘ राष्ट्रवादी ‘ था
न ‘सरकारवादी’ था
न
न हुसैन और नकवी जैसा मुसलमान था
वो मोदी जी की सत्ता और सोच के लिए बदहजमी पैदा करने वाली तस्वीरें खींचता था #DanishSiddiqui हीरो था https://t.co/O4b3E7HYpI— Ajit Anjum (@ajitanjum) July 17, 2021
Neither India’s Prime Minister nor the Foreign Minister have said ONE WORD about the death of photojournalist Danish Siddique at the hands of Taliban.
This shows the visceral & institutionalized hatred of the govt towards journalists who don’t kowtow to them or do their bidding.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 16, 2021
Reacting to Danish’s tragic death, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said, “I am deeply saddened by the shocking reports that Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui was killed while covering the Taliban atrocities in Kandahar.” Similar reactions followed from around the world even when Indian journalists continue to pose questions to PM Modi for his silence.