JUA wants parties to include media issues in manifestos

Safety and security of journalists, implementation of Majithia Wage Board, insurance and pension for journalists are some of the issues the Journalists' Union of Assam (JUA) wants political parties to include in their election manifestos for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The JUA has also appealed to the media to be vigilant about publication of paid news during the Lok Sabha election so that they do not publish anything which will benefit a particular political party or candidate in exchange of money or other benefits.

JUA president Geetartha Pathak and general secretary Prabhat Pathak in a joint statement said the Journalists' Union was appealing to "all the political parties to include the legitimate demands of the journalists in their party charter".

"Proper investigation of killings of journalists, ensuring safety and security of journalists, implementation of Majithia Wage Board, insurance and pension to journalists, should get a place in the election manifestos of the political parties", the statement said.

Expressing concern at the publication of paid news in a section of the media, the JUA asked the people to lodge complaints to the Election Commission and the concerned District Commissioner if they found any media publishing or airing paid news.