Guwahati: A journalists meet at Guwahati Press Club today (June22) insists on providing space for the accused journalist Mukul Pathak, who was arrested by CBI officials a few days back (with ex-Education minister of Assam, Ripun Borah accusing them of offering bribe to an investigative office), to clarify his stand at the earliest.
Organized by Journalists’ Action Committee, Assam and the NFNE, the meeting also emphasized on providing the basic minimum salary and facilities to the working journalists of the state.
Various speakers at the meeting, which was presided over by Keshab Kalita, also expressed anger at the pitiful condition of the media persons, where 60% of them are compelled to work without the proper appointment letter, salary structure, leave and other relevant facilities, recommended by Indian Labour Act.
The meeting, in a resolution, decided to send a delegation of journalists to New Delhi with an aim to meet Mukul Pathak, who is presently in Tihar jail (under judicial custody). However it was clarified that if Mr Pathak was involved in any illegal means for which he was arrested by the investigative agency, the journalists’ body would support appropriate actions against the reporter.
On the other hand, the meeting observed that Mr Pathak could ‘never be the only and last corrupt journalist’ functioning in the state (as a section of senior journalists tried to establish through their comments during last few days), and hence, it appealed the concern editor-proprietors to keep a vigil on the working journalists of Assam.
