A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

The National Union of Journalists (India) was formed at a national convention of journalists held in New Delhi on January 23 and 24, 1972 with the inaugural address delivered by eminent jurist M C Chagla and presided over by one of the most distinguished editors, Frank Moraes of the Indian Express.

Mr Akshay Kumar Jain, Editor, Navbharat Times was the chairman of the reception committee. A gallaxy of other leading editors, journalists and press trade union leaders participated in the two-day deliberations. They included, to name a few, Mr V K Narsimhan (Indian Express), Mr D R Mankekar (The Motherland), Mr S K Rau (Searchlight), Mr Meenakshi Sundaram (The Mail), Mr. Prithvis Chakravarty (Hindustan Times), Mr Baleshwar Agarwal (Hindustan Samachar), Mr S R Shukla (Hindustan Standard), Mr P K Roy (The Hindu), Mr Somanath Bhattacharya (Anand Bazar Patrika), Mr K N Malik (Times of India), Mr Hiranmoy Karlekar (Statesman), Rajendra Prabhu (Orbit), Rajendra Kapur and Ram Shankar Agnihotri.

Right from the first day, the NUJ(I) has stood and fought for ameliorating the economic conditions of journalists, promoting their professional and trade union rights, freedom of the press, journalistic ethics, delinking of press ownership from other industries, and protecting and defending the journalists from all kinds of external and internal onslaughts on their independence.

The NUJ(I) and its representatives have distinguished themselves by their excellent contribution in several statutory and executive bodies like the Press Council of India, Wage Boards for working journalists, committee on pension for journalists and Press Accreditation Committees at Central and state levels etc.
 

New Delhi, August 4: The drastic curbs imposed upon the two main news channels of Jammu,which also provide cable connection for other leading news channels,and restrictions for covering the current agitation in Jammu over the issue of land transfer to Amarnath Shrine can only be compared to the black days of emergency.Failing to find a solution of the vexed issue which in a way is its own creation,the state administration in J&K now under the central rule,has apparently run amuck in utter confusion.

NUJ(I) finds it totally unacceptable that the state administration should hold the media in Jammu responsible for creation of the present volatile situation.The agitation earlier in Srinagar and Kashmir valley over the land transfer to Amarnath shrine issue,was widely covered by the media ,when popular government was in power.No such wanton restrictions were imposed.But,when the focus of the agitation has shifted to Jammu and the state is under the central rule,a piquant situation with blatant media curbs is thought to be the only to deal with the explosive situation.There are reports of copies of some daily newspapers being snatched by berserk cops who tore them and threw away.Further,mediapersons covering the agiatation were brutally assulted leading to injuries.

I urge upon the Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh to counsel restraint to the Governor Mr.Vohra and instruct him to immediately lift all curbs imposed on the media in Jammu.The confrontation with the media shall only be counterproductive,which an ex-bureaucrate Governor with unfettered powers,will not understand.The centre has to act fast,before the media all over the country comes on the street,in support of the mediamen of Jammu.Centre cannot abdicate its responsibility at the present juncture,since J&K is under its direct rule,and finally its is answerable to the media and the country at large.

The NUJ(I) stand by the struggling mediapersons in Jammu,and back their demand for immediate lift of all misconceived curbs.If no responsible action was initiated by the centre forthwith,our organisation shall give a call for observance of protest day all over the country.Meanwhile a report has been sought from our state unit over the latest situation.


(P.K.Roy)
President NUJ(I)


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