PCA demands probe against coal mafia-media nexus
Guwahati: Press Club of Assam (PCA), while expressing serious concern
over the ongoing debates over illegal payments by the coal mafia to a
section of media houses and scribes based in Guwahati and Silchar,
today demanded a high level probe to investigate the matter. Urging
State chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the duly registered press
club pointed out that the enquiry becomes necessary for maintaining
the image of mainstream media and also the government in Dispur.
It may be mentioned that sensation prevails in the region after an
unauthenticated list of media houses and concerned individuals terming
as involved in illegal tax collections in tune of crores of rupees
from the coal carrying truckers. Te list went viral on social media
and the issue has also been extensively reported by many media outlets
inside and outside the region.
The list, understandably prepared on 21 October 2020, narrates monthly
contributions (read protection amount) to several satellite news
channels, acclaimed news papers of Assam. It also included names of a
few individuals relating to news channels and a press organization
along with Cachar police, Karimganj police (in Assam) and Meghalaya
police personnel.
Meanwhile, members of various organizations like Journalists’ Forum
Assam, Hailakandi Press Club, Karimganj Press Club, etc expressed
serious concern over the exposure of the payment-list. They insisted
on clarifying the matter effectively by the mainstream media arguing
that the media houses and persons concerned (mentioned in the list)
should clarify their stand for the sake of State media image.
“We demand the government to declare a probe into the coal mafia-media
nexus urgently to find the truth,” said a statement issued by PCA
president Kailash Sarma, working president Nava Thakuria and general
secretary Hiren Chandra Kalita, adding that it would help both the
State based media fraternity and the Sonowal-led government which
routinely claims to maintain the policy of zero-tolerance to
corruption.
ये भी पढ़ सकते हैं-
यूपी के एक थाने की उगाही लिस्ट हुई लीक, आप भी देखें रेट
पुलिस की उगाही लिस्ट सार्वजनिक करने वाले IPS अमिताभ ठाकुर पर योगी सरकार कुपित
