Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) successfully organized a media conference at the Manavendra Complex in Dispur as part of its preparations for the 2026 state assembly elections. The primary goal of this meeting was to strengthen the party’s media department and spokespersons, while also enhancing communication at the grassroots level. Additionally, the conference aimed to combat false information and fake news propagated by the BJP government.
Present at the event were APCC President Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Assam’s media in-charge Shri Charan Singh Chabra, representatives from the All India Congress Committee including Shri Harshad Sharma, Smt. Anika Mehrotra, Smt. Nighat Abbass, and Smt. Rashmi Miglani.
During the meeting, Shri Gaurav Gogoi emphasized the growing threats to media freedom in Assam. He instructed party spokespersons to provide complete support to journalists and media personnel who face harassment and intimidation from BJP ministers, legislators, and politicians. Reaffirming the Assam Congress’s steadfast position on free speech and press freedom, Shri Gogoi stated that the Congress will stand in solidarity with the media, even if the news is critical of the party. He asserted that unlike the BJP, Congress would never resort to aggressive tactics.
“In these challenging times, when the BJP government is systematically undermining democratic institutions, it is our duty to protect the pillars of democracy, which include a free and fearless press,” said Shri Gogoi. “We must ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear, as their work is essential to holding power accountable.”
The conference highlighted the importance of strengthening Congress’s media framework. Shri Gogoi directed newly appointed spokespersons to establish skilled and proactive media teams at the grassroots level. These teams are expected to disseminate messages about the Congress’s overarching development agenda, social justice, and to expose corruption within the BJP government in Assam. He called upon the spokespersons to act as the “eyes and ears” of the people, uncovering the current government’s corruption and failures in governance.
Shri Gogoi also drew attention to recent threats to free speech in Assam, citing specific incidents where the BJP government has targeted journalists and media houses.
In June 2025, BJP Minister Jayanta Mallah Baruah made derogatory remarks about a journalist at a press conference, leading to widespread protests and condemnation from journalist organizations. The situation only eased after intervention from the Chief Minister.
Additionally, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been accused of creating an environment of intimidation, targeting journalists based on their religious identities, which has resulted in incidents of arrests. Notably, journalist Dilwar Husseyn Majumdar was arrested and rearrested in March 2025 for his reporting, which media organizations labeled as “systematic harassment.”
Under the BJP government, media personnel have faced online abuse, police investigations, and arrests for posting critical reports against the government on social media. This climate has contributed to a decline in Assam’s media freedom ranking.
“The derogatory remarks made by Minister Jayanta Mallah Baruah and the Chief Minister’s dismissive attitude towards the media are direct attacks on the freedom of expression guaranteed by our constitution,” stated Shri Gaurav Gogoi. “The Congress will not tolerate such authoritarian tactics. We express solidarity with every journalist, even those who criticize us, as a healthy democracy relies on diverse voices and not on repression.”
This media conference is a significant step for the APCC in preparation for the 2026 elections, empowering local leaders to engage with the public and serve as their voice.
Original Source: https://assam.nenow.in/the-apcc-media-conference-aimed-at-strengthening-the-congress-and-safeguarding-media-freedom-ahead-of-the-2026-elections-has-concluded/
Category: Popular Stories,অসম,শীর্ষ সংবাদ
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-07-12 22:00:00
