HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 28: Chief Minister Hi manta Biswa Sarma on Saturday expressed re gret over the remarks made by a cabinet colleague towards a journalist and reiterated his government’s unwavering respect for the press and its role in a democratic society. Addressing the issue after widespread protests by journalists across Assam over Hous ing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah’s comments, the Chief Minister said that if any derogatory statement had been made, it was deeply unfortunate and unacceptable.
“I apologise on behalf of my cabinet if any journalist felt insulted. Though I haven’t heard what was said, I will personally speak to the minister and ask him to apologise. Journalistssaid. The controversy erupted on Friday during a press conference when Minister Baruah report edly declined to answer a question posed by a reporter from a local satellite news channel, which has been critical of his alleged involve ment in the allocation of government subsidies under a dairy promotion scheme. The minister had stated that he would respond only to the channel’s owner and not to “low-class” individ uals, a comment that drew sharp reactions from the media fraternity. Journalists from across Assam, including in Guwahati, Sivasagar, Samaguri and Dibrugarh, wore black badges and staged demonstrations, demanding anapology from the minister and seeking assurance against future instances of verbal abuse or disrespect by public representatives.
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Chief Minister Sarma, in his response, urged for a clear distinction between media house owners and working journalists. “Owners and journalists are not the same. Journalists are to be respected, regardless of who owns the platform. Our political criticism of media owners should not be viewed as an attack on journalists,” he said.
Sarma also acknowledged the financial hardships faced by working journalists, especially those in rural areas. “Many journalists do not have houses of their own. When they or their family members fall ill, they often seek assistance from me. I am happy to help, but the media owners, who earn substantial profits, should also take responsibility and ensure their journalists are adequately paid,” the Chief Minister said. He cited instances of rural correspondents being paid as little as Rs 100 per news item. “That is why I make it a point to give them a byte, so that their reports are used and they are paid. It is a matter of dignity,” he added.
Calling for structural reforms in the media sector, Sarma advocated for a fixed minimum wage and regulated eight-hour shifts for journalists to ensure their professional and personal well-being. He reiterated his government’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom and ensuring a respectful working environment for journalists. “We may disagree with media narratives at times, but there should be no room for disrespect,” the Chief Minister said, reaffirming that any lapse in this regard would be addressed promptly and sensitively. (With inputs from PTI)
