Pune: Media Representatives Stage Walkout At NDA Passing Out Parade; PUWJ Files Formal Complaint Over ‘Disrespectful Treatment
Pune, November 30, 2025: The Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) has submitted a formal grievance to Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and senior tri-service leadership, alleging inappropriate behaviour and procedural lapses during media coverage of the 149th Passing Out Parade at the National Defence Academy (NDA) on Friday.
In a letter addressed to the CDS and marked to the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as senior commanders and the NDA Commandant, PUWJ stated that accredited journalists were subjected to disruptive seating changes and disrespectful conduct by officers on duty, resulting in the media walking out of the event for the first time in NDA’s history.
According to the complaint, the designated media enclosure was abruptly shifted to a location from where photographers and videographers could neither capture clear visuals nor record the address of the Reviewing Officer, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi. Journalists said the arrangement made proper coverage “practically impossible” and undermined their responsibility to report on the national event.
The letter also alleges that Major Pratap Singh Choudhary behaved rudely with media personnel and dismissed their concerns. His reported remarks — “You must walk out if you are not happy with this arrangement” and “I don’t scare of anyone” — were described as disrespectful and unbecoming of the occasion. Even the intervention of the Defence PRO, Pune, was allegedly ignored.
In protest, journalists walked out of the parade venue and waited in the parking area for nearly two hours until the ceremony concluded, maintaining protocol. PUWJ noted that no NDA official approached the media to address or resolve the situation during this time.
The union also objected to a remark by an officer claiming that previous NDA parade coverage was a “flop show,” calling the statement factually incorrect and highlighting extensive nationwide media reporting of earlier events, including coverage of the first batch of women cadets.
Calling the incident “unprecedented” and “forced upon the press,” PUWJ has sought:
A formal inquiry into the incident
Accountability of those responsible
Corrective measures to ensure professional facilitation of media at future NDA events
Clear communication of press protocols
PUWJ President Brijmohan Patil, in his signed representation, emphasised the longstanding cooperative relationship between the media and the NDA and urged that the dignity of this association be restored.
