Guwahati: While many journalists in India opt for not hoisting the National flag with the argument to maintain media’s neutrality, an Assam based scribe’s forum has reiterated its appeal to the people of northeast India in general and media personnel in particular to hoist the National flag as a mark of paying respect to the martyrs of Freedom Struggle.
The Journalists Forum Assam (JFA) also denounced the rhetoric diktats of some separatist militants of the region on every Republic Day and Independence Day and called upon the patriotic citizens to celebrate both the auspicious Days.
“Every patriotic Indian should observe R-Day and I-Day to pay his/her tributes to the martyrs of Freedom Movement for their supreme sacrifices. Without showing respects to the Freedom Fighters, one should not cry demanding various constitutional rights,” said a JFA statement.
It added that a lot of martyrs from Assam including Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakoti, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan-Rauta, Hemoram Patar, Gunabhi Bordoloi with many others also laid down their lives for the honour of the Tricolour.
“We must not maintain the skepticism that the Tricolour belongs to the government machinery alone. Rather the National flag is a priceless property of over one billion Indians. We have to cherish our independence with proper responsibilities,” added the statement. The JFA, while appealing for celebration of 69th Republic Day on 26 January next, clarified that journalists should come forward overcoming all kinds of prejudices and confusion over hoisting the Tricolour. It specially appealed to all scribe-bodies of the region, including local press clubs, press guilds, journalist union/associations etc, to pay their homage to all martyrs hoisting the Tricolour.
JFA president Rupam Barua also appreciated Guwahati Press Club, which has been observing both the R-Day and I-Day since 1998 defying all odds including the diktats of armed militants, and requested the city based media persons and other patriotic citizens to join in the celebrations of 69th R-Day at the press club premises starting with the hoisting of Tricolour on 11 am.
