RPM Plans Press Day Events, November 26 Protest
Journalists’ body to explore an alternative venue in Delhi for its demonstration demanding central legislation recognising media as the Fourth Estate.
- RPM plans National Press Day celebrations nationwide
- November 26 protest to demand Fourth Estate status
- Organisers to explore an alternative Delhi venue
- Memorandum to be submitted to national authorities
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Oct: The Rashtriya Patrakar Mahasangha (RPM) has planned state-level celebrations for National Press Day on November 16 and a demonstration on November 26, Constitution Day, to press for central legislation recognising the media as the Fourth Estate.
The decisions were taken during RPM’s monthly organisational meeting held online through Google Meet on Sunday. The meeting was hosted by National Treasurer Dhiraj Kumar and chaired by National President Dr Pabitra Mohan Samantaray.
Members discussed arrangements for the two events and unanimously agreed to explore an alternative venue for the November 26 demonstration in view of reported restrictions on protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. A preparatory meeting will be held next Sunday to discuss the venue and finalise arrangements.
Joint Campaign For Media Legislation
The proposed demonstration has been jointly organised since 2024 by RPM, the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers (IFSMN), and the National Media Confederation (NMC), New Delhi.
The organisations aim to draw the Centre’s attention to the demand for legislation formally recognising the media as the Fourth Estate. The demonstration will also highlight journalists’ welfare concerns and challenges faced by small and medium newspapers and magazines.
The participating bodies plan to submit a comprehensive memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, and the President of India.
Office-Bearers Discuss Preparations
Those attending the meeting included Virendra Kumar Saini, Delhi-NCR President; Sushil Kumar Sharma, Organising Secretary; Mehetab Khan Chand, National Convenor; Tahir Ahmad, Programme Coordinator; Santosh Yadu, Raipur Coordinator; and Advocate Radhashyam Panda, Joint General Secretary of IFSMN.
Chandra and other office-bearers and members from different states also participated in the deliberations.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Priyabrata Nayak, who appreciated the participants’ involvement and commitment to the organisation’s objectives.
RPM reiterated its commitment to strengthening unity among journalists, safeguarding media freedom, addressing journalists’ welfare concerns and pursuing appropriate central legislation to recognise the media’s role in Indian democracy.
