The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has condemned the Asom Sahitya Sabha for serving "extortion notices" to a number of electronic media houses in Guwahati. A letter printed on the official ASS pad (vide no 2010-2011-2165-71) and signed by its general secretary Paramananda Rajbangshi has demanded Rs 3,50,000 from four news channels — NewsLive, DY365, NewsTime Assam and Prag News at the earliest.
Asom Sahitya Sabha (ASS), the highest literary forum of Assam, has been mired in controversies in the recent past for many unconstitutional activities allegedly carried out by its present secretary.
The ASS secretary Rajbangshi, according to EFMA, argued in a demand notice that the local news channels have not contributed to his organisation, nor they have shown proper interest in the growth and popularisation of Assamese language and culture. Rajbangshi even warned that if the news channels do not respond in time to his demand notice, the ASS would go for legal actions against them.
The EMFA, in a statement issued to the media houses, termed the contents of the demand notice as akin to an extortion notice normally served by militant organisations and hence asks the ASS to immediately withdraw the said demand notice. The forum also urged the authorities to take proper action against this kind of practice, so that the media in this trouble torn region can function smoothly and effectively.
