4-5 March 2020 : The IJU held its National Executive Committee meeting in Vijayawada on 4-5 March 2020, hosted by the Andhra Pradesh Media Federation (APMF). The session was presided over by President Geetartha Pathak and other than organizational matters after the NEC held in Imphal, members took stock of press freedom and labour laws issues among others, which continue to be increasingly under grave threat under the present government.
The NEC specifically dealt at length over the unprecedented situation the media in Delhi had to face while covering the North East Delhi riots, which began on 23 February between Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protestors and those pro-CAA. The violence took an ugly communal turn leading to over death of 55 people and over 200 injured. There was mayhem on the streets and houses, vehicles, shops and even some places of worship were gutted. Amidst the polarization of communities, the riots revealed a shocking new and dangerous phenomenon wherein journalists were deliberately targeted by protestors on the basis of their religion. Never ever happened before!
Over a dozen journalists were heckled, assaulted, beaten and forced to recite Hindu religious hymns to prove their religious identity. Besides, at a number of places the police personnel simply remained mute spectators. The IJU took cognizance of the reports, condemned such deliberate targeting and demanded the government bring the culprits to book. Earlier too, journalists were targeted while covering the protests in Jamia Millia University and JNU, thereby showing the growing trend of gagging the media to from gagging the media from telling the truth and the citizens’ right to information.
The meeting noted that government failed to protect journalists covering incidents of mob violence in the capital. The attack on journalists was an attack on the freedom of the press and the IJU appealed to all to respect the neutrality of journalists and their rights. The IJU has demanded adequate compensation to the journalists injured and for equipments damaged by the rioters. At the same time, the IJU hailed the journalists for their courage and determination to report facts under the most trying circumstances.
The meeting also reiterated its demand for a Safety Act for journalists without further delay to allow them to carry out their duties without fear or favour and ensure an independent media, critical to any democratic society. Further, it was agreed that the IJU and its State affiliates must ensure that a media rights monitoring committee is constituted and that cases are religiously followed up. Besides, the demand for basic insurance coverage for journalists covering violence and reporting in conflict areas was reiterated both with the media Houses and the government.
The meeting expressed concern over the government’s move to do away with the Working Journalists Act and the Wage Board by bringing in the Labour Codes. The IJU through its Secretary General shared its concern with the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Labour which met in December by making a written as well as oral submission, which was acknowledged.
The meeting mourned the untimely demise of its National Secretary Prabhat Dash, member, Press Council of India and President of Odisha Journalists Union on December 26 and sent its heartfelt condolences to his family. On behalf of IJU, Secretary General Sabina Inderjit flew to Bhubneshwar for the cremation to pay the union’s final respect. This apart, President of Chhattisgarh Shramjivi Kalyan Patrakar Sangh and Executive Committee member B D Nizami represented the IJU at Bhubneshwar for the condolence meeting held by the OJU.
The meeting adopted the Minutes of Imphal meeting and Secretary General Report, which dealt with vacancy created in the Press Council of India following Com Dash demise and the Press Council of Chairman exceeding his powers, playing mischief and pronouncing a malafide and unfair order despite being apprised of a change of leadership in IJU; issuing of show cause notices to breakaway and power-hungry group for anti-union activities including Balwinder Singh Jammu, K Sreenivas Reddy, S N Sinha, K Amarnath, Prem Nath Bhargava and Narender Reddy, following direction of Imphal NEC; the IJU countered the disinformation campaign of the breakaway group to the IFJ: the IJU was successful in bringing out a souvenir to commemorate the historic NEC meeting in Imphal thanks to the initiative by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union.
Having taking serious note of lack of response to the show cause notices, the NEC meeting unanimously decided to expel them as per Constitution and rules. At the same time, as per the Constitution, the meeting decided to fill up some of the vacancies in the NEC and unanimously appointed Basheer Madala, B D Nizami and Bolla Satish Babu as Vice Presidents; Amar Sangno, Pranab Sarkar, Madhukar and Shashi Bhushan Praharaj as Secretaries and Asem Bhakta Singh as Treasurer.
The IJU and its affiliates discussed the ensuing International Women’s Day on 8 March and debated various ideas to commemorate it. All agreed in one voice that issues such as sexual harassment at work place, unequal pay, night transport for women journalists and an appeal for women journalists to join and strengthen the unions would be taken up that day.
