National Press Day observed in Guwahati at the Gauhati Press Club

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Along with the rest of the country, National Press Day was observed in Guwahati on Wednesday.

The Assam Press Correspondents' Union (APCU) organized a day-long programme at the Gauhati Press Club to mark the National Press Day, which is observed to commemorate the founding day of the Press Council of India (PCI). The APCU felicitated three senior journalists on the occasion - editor in-chief of Dainandin Barta Naren Hazarika, photo journalist of Asomiya Praditin Biju Boro and sports editor of Dainik Asom Subodh Malla Baruah. Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly Dr Nomal Momin felicitated the trio on behalf of the APCU. Momin also released a souvenir named 'Obiroto Jatra' -edited by Abdul Latif Sarkar - on the occasion.

APCU's central president Abdul Khalek presided over the programme.

Addressing the media fraternity, Momin said that there are still many journalists who are doing their duty with honesty and dignity. However, the entire fraternity is sometimes harmed by the misdeeds of some unethical journalists, he said.

He said, "Just like there is people in Assam who take part in party politics with honesty, there are also media persons in the State who do their duty honestly.Honest journalists receive respect from society and hence journalists should prepare correct news so that society is benefited."

Referring to the mushroom growth of web portals in the State, Momin said that it is not a good sign and added that the authorities concerned should keep an eye on the activities of such portals.

Those present on the occasion included senior journalists Sanjib Kumar Phukan and Prakash Mahanta. Earlier in the morning, those present paid tribute to the 32 journalists killed in Assam since the 1990s.

It may be mentioned that the Journalists Union of Assam (JUA), affiliated to Indian Journalists' Union (IJU), also observed the occasion with the theme 'Journalism Under Surveillance'.

Those who participated in the programme included, among others, national president of the IJU Gitartha Pathak (chief guest), editor in-chief of Dainik Agradoot Kanak Sen Deka and editor of the same newspaper Pranjal Sen Deka, along with BJP media panelist Duina Barbaruah.

Speaking on the occasion, Gitartha Pathak said that certain steps taken by the government to muzzle the press pose a threat to the Fourth Estate, but journalists will have to continue to perform their duties with courage and honesty.

Meanwhile, a press release stated that National Press Day was also observed on Wednesday at the office premises of the Journalists Association of Assam (JAA), in collaboration with the National Union of Journalist India (NUJI), under the presidentship of president Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty.

Appointed speaker and national vice president of NUJI-cum-chief advisor of JAA Bhupen Goswami delivered the keynote speech on this year's theme, 'Safety of media fraternity'. Goswami said that the last 13 years, 17 media houses and 1,086 journalists have been attacked. So we need a protective Act immediately. He dwelt at length on the challenges faced by the journalists of the country due to the Corona pandemic. Dhirendra Nath Chakravartty spoke on the significant role of the press in building a society with positive thought and creative writing. The NUJI and JAA reiterated its demand for a Journalists Protection Act and Media Council to ensure the safety and end "impunity" for attacks on journalists. They said that the media is now the nerve centre of our society and that it plays a vital role in disseminating information to the people. The meeting also expressed serious concern over the killing of journalists and atrocities on the media fraternity.

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