Journalist Association for Assam Holds Annual Session in Chirang

Annual Meeting of Journalist Association for Assam

Chirang, July 13: The Journalist Association for Assam (JAFA) convened its annual session on Sunday at the Kajalgaon municipal office in Chirang district. The event attracted journalists from various districts including Chirang, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, and Kokrajhar.

The meeting was inaugurated by Pramod Boro, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), who was accompanied by BTC public relations executive member Neelut Sargiary, Councilor Madhav Chetri, and former MLA Chandi Basumatary.

During his address, Boro commended the media for its invaluable role in society, referring to it as the “fourth pillar of democracy.”

“The media's influence in shaping society and ensuring accountability is unmatched. Journalism has evolved significantly over the years, contributing to societal progress. I applaud the JAFA state committee for organizing such impactful gatherings,” he stated.

Boro also revealed plans for the BTC administration to allocate land in Kajalgaon for a dedicated JAFA Mandal office in Chirang district. “We will not only provide the land but also ensure the construction of the office, giving journalists a proper workspace,” he added.

The BTC Chief did not shy away from political critique, specifically targeting the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and its leader Bikram Daimary. He accused the previous administration of negligence and corruption, stating, “For 17 years, what did the BPF accomplish? They awarded numerous contracts to outsiders while neglecting local needs. Bikram Daimary has even received payments as a contractor from two different departments for the same work. Since 2006, I have been advocating for better infrastructure and teachers in Bodo schools, yet I have never seen Daimary at any Bodo school rally — only on the BPF platform,” he remarked.

Highlighting his own contributions, Boro emphasized the importance of the 2020 Bodo Accord, which facilitated the provincialisation of Bodo-medium schools. “The third Bodo Accord included Resolution 6.3, which allowed our schools to be provincialised — a feat the BPF failed to achieve despite protests. They never even sought peace with the Centre in Delhi. Today, they take credit without any substantial effort,” he noted.

Boro further alleged that during the BPF's rule, there were widespread outside contracts and political violence. “When I campaigned, my convoy was attacked under the BPF government. Now, there is peace — so much so that Bikram Daimary can ride around on a motorcycle without fear,” he stated, promising to present detailed documents next week comparing contractor records from his administration with those of the BPF.

Earlier in the day, the JAFA flag was raised at 8 AM by Chirang district president Sunil Kumar Sharma and Bongaigaon district president Uttam Kumar Barman. Floral tributes were offered by secretaries Abdul Maleque Ahmed and Ranjit Dutta in honor of journalists. A new district committee for Chirang and Bongaigaon was also established during the meeting.

The open session at 2 PM was led by state president Abhidip Choudhury and attended by Kokrajhar MP Jayanta Kumar Sharma, Bijni MLA Ajay Kumar Roy, Sidli MLA Nirmal Kumar Brahma, Councilor Paniram Brahma, and other senior JAFA members.

The conference concluded with a call for enhanced unity among journalists and a renewed commitment to uphold the ethics and rights of the profession.