MANGALDAI, Dec 28 - The convention of Darrang and Udalguri district journalists, organized by the North Assam chapter of Journalists Association of Assam (JAA), at the conference hall of Orang National Park on Sunday has passed a resolution demanding the government to introduce a �Journalists Protection Act� in the current winter session of the State Assembly.
The journalists� meet while expressing grave concern over the growing cases of attack on working journalists in the nation as well as in the State, in its resolution, appealed to all the MLAs of the Assembly cutting across all political lines to come forward and do the needful for approval of the House.
The meet also condemned the failure of Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP Government in identifying all the guilty persons involved in the brutal murder of journalist Parag Bhuyan and demanded to make public the inquiry report of the case.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Bhupen Goswami, a senior journalist and vice president of National Union of Journalists (India), NUJ (I) said, �Our journalist body has been demanding for an Act for the safeguard of journalists on duty for long. Each time the government gives us an assurance but it never materialises.�
Hailing the services of the rural journalists of the State, including Darrang and Udalguri, amid various financial and social challenges, Goswami mooted for formation of a journalist council and release of fellowship from both the government and the corporate sector on a yearly basis in the best interest of quality assessment of rural journalists.
The meet chaired by journalist Mayukh Goswami discussed several issues relevant to the present day media.
Earlier the day-long meet was inaugurated by journalist-cum-folk artiste Bapon Sarma while Narayan Deka explained its objectives. Srawan Kumar Jha, president. Kharupetia Press Club and Safikur Rahman, Forest official also attended it as invited guests.
Later an executive body of undivided Darrang district (Darrang and Udalguri) of JAA was formed with Mayukh Goswami as its president, Kumar Dharmendra Narayan Deb as vice president, Srawan Kumar Jha and Narayan Deka as joint general secretaries and Lokeswar Nath as the treasurer.
