EMFA condemns extortion notice to Media Houses

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 in ASS pad (vide no 2010-2011-2165-71) and signed by its general secretary Paramananda Rajbangshi has demanded Rs 3,50,000 (Rupees three lakh fifty thousand only) from at least four news channels namely 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, argues in a demand notice that the local news channels have not contributed to his organization, nor they have shown proper interest in the growth and popularization 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, terms the contents of the demand notice as akin to an extortion notice normally served by militant organizations and hence asks the ASS to immediately withdraw the said demand notice. The forum also urges the authority to take proper action against this kind of practice, so that the media in this trouble torn region can function smoothly and effectively.