Guwahati scribes demand action against Pijush Hazarika for 'intimidating' journalist

GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Press Club, while condemning Minister Pijush Hazarika for intimidating a journalist over the phone, said that the Election Commission (EC) should take cognizance of the same.

Penning a note, the GPC, said that the Minister's "intimidation" of a television journalist over phone for airing a news report is "highly condemnable and cannot be condoned at any cost."

"The Gauhati Press Club, while condemning the act of intimidation in the strongest words is further of the opinion that it is very unbecoming of a public representative to threaten a journalist of dire consequences, no matter what," the note, undersigned by General Secretary Sanjoy Ray and President Manoj Kumar Nath, said.

"At a time when the protection of journalists has become a cause of concern, such an uncalled-for attitude by a public representative comes as a shocker," it added.

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If he had any complaint related to the content or authenticity of any news report, he could have approached the appropriate authorities for redressal, the scribes further added.

"Such a ‘power-drunk’ attitude on the part of Mr Hazarika has taken politicking to a new low and appropriate action should be taken against the Minister by the Election Commission after verifying the authenticity of the audio clip that had gone viral in the social media," it added.

We also demand that the safety and security of the journalists concerned should also be ensured by the Election Commission and the State Government, the note further added.

A leaked phone call between a man thought to be Pijush and the journalist in question has unleashed a flood of outrage from the media fraternity.

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