Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) expresses concern over repeated verbal attacks on journalists by various individuals in the recent past and urges the State media fraternity to get united against all odds. The forum in a statement recalled the derogatory comments by AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal against the video journalists, where the Parliamentarian recently stated that they should be beaten.
“While we condemn the attitude of Ajmal and demand necessary actions against the businessman turned politician, we also urge the media persons to show their unity, integrity and professionalism in their work places,” said JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria, adding that the managements of news channels should come forward defending their employees in such a situation.
The forum also observed that Assamese entrepreneur turned film producer Luit Kumar Barman has publicly alleged that a few city-based television journalists were beneficiaries of Rs 260 crore NRC Assam updation scam (where Barman is a legal complainant).
The proprietors and editors of news channels should separately clarify that no journalist of their organisations are involved with it, otherwise the audience may identify the media fraternity as corrupt, concluded the statement.