Guwahati, April 11 Journalists in Guwahati expressed concern on Saturday over the "attacks on the media" during the recently held state assembly elections, according to a statement.
At a protest meeting at the Gauhati Press Club, attended by around 150 journalists, it was decided that memoranda would be written to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the Election Commission regarding the matter, the statement said.
The journalists expressed concern over instances such as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stating that he would "politically and intellectually" eliminate two media groups if he returned to power, and the attack on the North Lakhimpur office of the Assamese daily 'Asomiya Pratidin' on Thursday night, hours after the assembly elections had ended, the statement said.
The journalists who attended the meeting claimed that a "systematic attack" was being carried out on the press, affecting its freedom, it added.
They also advocated for an independent media commission, comprising retired judges, lawyers, and civil society members, to address concerns about security and press freedom, the statement said.
Three resolutions were adopted at the meeting, including convening a citizens' meeting, it said.
The Gauhati Press Club also appealed to other press clubs to stage protests over the recent incidents and resolved to submit a memorandum to the president, the PM, the Press Council of India, the EC, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the state's chief secretary, and the DGP regarding the attacks on the media.
Polling for the 126-member assembly was held on April 9, and the votes will be counted on May 4.