Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) submits memorandum to Home Minister Bamang Felix

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: A delegation of the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) led by its president Amar Sangno had called on Home Minister Bamang Felix yesterday at his official residence and submitted a seven-point memorandum.

The APUWJ submitted this memorandum while observing the World Press Freedom Day. Felix also holds the portfolio of IPR minister of the state.

The seven-point memorandum include enactment of a special law for protection of journalists in line with such law enacted by the Maharashtra Government, ensuring safety and security of journalists in the state, life insurance scheme for accredited journalists, publishing a status of investigation of all the journalists attack cases and ensuring justice to the families of the journalists being assaulted since 1980 in the state without further delay, among other things.

The Home Minister on his part assured to pursue all the points in the memorandum while reiterating the importance of free press for democracy to function.

Meanwhile, the Minister appealed to the press fraternity to ensure that journalistic ethics are upheld by all its affiliated members.

Expressing concern over the unregulated mushrooming of media houses in the state over the past few years, the Minister suggested APUWJ to work out modalities for ensuring a healthy growth of journalism in the state.

"The state government is committed towards the safety and security of journalists. But it is imperative to first identify who is doing ethical journalism so that they can be protected," said Minister Felix.

Adding that not only journalists but suppression of any person or group is not tolerated by the Chief Minister Pema Khandu-led-state government, Minister Felix said that freedom of speech is an important part of the democracy but it is vital that everyone exercise this right with responsibility.

The Home Minister also raised concern about growing numbers of unregistered media channels and media persons. He appealed to the APUWJ to regulate the growing number of unregistered media persons.

The Minister further extended his best wishes to journalists across the world on the occasion of 'World Press Freedom Day' and called on them to uphold journalistic ethics for a vibrant and progressive democracy.

APUWJ President Amar Sangno called upon the fellow working journalists to uphold the journalistic principles and ethics while practising the profession and be voice of the voiceless without fear and favour.

"Being in this profession, the people of faith in us do have huge responsibility. We should live up the expectations of people to make this country and state a vibrant democracy" Sangno said.

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