Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Thakur's intervention sought to resume AIR Dibrugarh's Assamese news bulletin

A CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH: Twenty two frontline organisations of the State has sought the intervention of Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Anurag Thakur to resume broadcast of the Assamese news bulletin of All India Radio (AIR) Dibrugarh which has been discontinued by the Prasar Bharati from October 24. In a memorandum addressed to the Union Minister on Saturday, the organisations urged him to reconsider Prasar Bharati's decision saying that the move has come as a 'major shock and disappointment' for the people of Assam.

"First accept our warmest greetings on behalf of the people of Assam. As you must be aware that the Assamese News Bulletin of All India Radio (AIR) Dibrugarh has been discontinued from October 24, the move has come as a major shock and disappointment for the people of our State.

The 5-minute Assamese News Bulletin that was broadcast daily from 6pm had an emotional and nostalgic attachment for the people of Assam since it began airing from the early 70s. Even today the news bulletin has been the only source of information for the people living in the rural pockets.

Even people living in the urban areas listen to the Assamese news bulletin. Not only Assam but people from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland depend on the Assamese News Bulletin aired by the All India Radio Dibrugarh station," the memorandum mentioned.

"The discontinuation of the news bulletin has broken the heart of the people. Therefore, on behalf of the people of Assam we request you to kindly reconsider the decision and allow All India Radio Dibrugarh to air the Assamese News Bulletin like before," it further stated.

Among the signatories were Udayan Kumar Gogoi, general secretary of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Parishad, Ranjit Gohain, president of the All Assam Motock Yuba Chatra Sanmilan and representatives of 20 other prominent organisations. The discontinuation of the Assamese News Bulletin at the All India Radio Dibrugarh station by Prasar Bharati as part of its cost-cutting measures has met with strong protests from citizens across the State.

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