New Delhi, Dec 23: Government today said it has been informed about an attack on the offices of Zee News and Alpha Marathi in Mumbai and is awaiting details from the Maharashtra government before making any comments on it. Making a reference to the attacks, leader of the House Jaswant Singh conveyed Home Minister L K Advani's message in the Rajya Sabha saying, "This incident has been taken seriously. But we are awaiting complete details from the state government".
Singh mentioned the subject on repeated demands from members cutting across party lines who wanted to know what had happened at the Zee Mumbai office and what is the government's reaction to it.
The attack by alleged activists of a political party was raised, among others, by Laloo Prasad Yadav (RJD) who termed it as an attack on democracy and wanted Advani to make a statement on the issue.
Other members also expressed concern on the issue and said it was an attack on the freedom of the press.
The issue also figured in the Lok Sabha where BSP leader Rashid Alvi demanded that the government initiate an inquiry into the incident and bring the culprits to book.
Chandrakant Khaire (Shiv Sena) alleged that NCP workers had carried out the attack.
IUML's G M Banatwalla, while condemning the incident, said such attacks on media posed a grave threat to democracy. Bureau Report