MORIGAON, March 25 - The Journalists Association of Assam (JAA) has expressed grave concern over some false propaganda by some vested lobbies propagating that newspapers will cause coronavirus infection. JAA president DN Chakravarty, general secretary Dalim Phukan and national vice president NUJI, Bhupen Goswami said in a press release that a vested circle in a pre-planned manner has spearheaded this propaganda causing concern among the journalists, hawkers and readers. The hawkers of newspapers across the State were reluctant to distribute newspapers following the false propaganda. The JAA has appealed to all agents, hawkers and newspapers groups to settle the distribution problems. The JAA has also demanded to provide hand gloves, masks etc., to the hawkers during the time of distribution of newspapers so that misconception of the readers may disappear, the press release added.
Meanwhile, National Union of Journalists India (NUJI) has expressed grave concern over the coronavirus threat as India is undergoing a total lockdown. In a press release, president NUJI Ras Bihara and secretary general Prasanna Mohanty said that our country is going through a very critical phase. The entire country is locked down. While facing such a critical situation, media is playing a vital role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been praising the role of the media and so also the common people. But when mediapersons are discharging their duties with great devotion, in many places police and other authorities are harassing them. Every day we are getting such type of complaints.
NUJI has planned to bring such matters to the notice of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and concerned Chief Ministers urging special protection for journalists involved with corona coverage, national vice president NUJI, Bhupen Goswami added in the press release.
The JAA also observed that in many cases journalists who reside in metropolitan cities in rented houses were served notices to leave the rented houses on the pretext that the scribes may be carriers of corona pandemic. The JAA urged the government to intervene in the matter in Guwahati. The JAA also urged the government to declare welfare package for working journalists in this situation.
