|
Unions call off assembly boycott
Hyderabad, Feb 20: The Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, the AP Electronic Media Journalists Association, Electronic Media Cameramen Association of AP and AP Photo Journalists Association called off their ‘boycott’ of Assembly proceedings on Saturday within minutes of the commencement of the day’s session following acceptance of their demands by the Government.
The Chief Minister Mr. K Rosaiah met the representatives of the journalists Unions led by Indian Journalists Union (IJU) Secretary-General, Mr. K Sreenivas Reddy just before the start of the session in his chambers at the Assembly and held discussions on the demands of the journalists. The Home Minister Ms. Sabita Indra Reddy and Minister for Information and Public Relations Dr. J Geetha Reddy were also present at the meeting.
The Chief Minister Mr. Rosaiah, after discussions with the representatives of the Journalists Unions, agreed to order the withdrawal of the ‘false counter case’ foisted by the police against some journalists on 15 February. He also assured the journalists that he would take deterrent action against police officials responsible for the brutal lathi charge on the journalists on 14 and 15 February in the Osmania University Campus as soon as he received the findings of the CID on the incident. He said nobody found guilty would be spared.
The Chief Minister accepted the demand of the journalists and agreed to pay compensation for the vehicles, camera equipment and cell phones damaged in the lathi charge at the OU Campus. He said the government would re-imburse the medical expenses incurred by the journalists for getting treatment at private hospitals. He asked the journalists unions to submit the details of the damaged vehicles, equipment with estimated cost and the medical expenses to the government so that compensation could be paid at an early date.
On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the Home Minister Ms. Sabita Indra Reddy and Minister for Information and Public Relations came up to the Media Point in the Assembly premises and announced the acceptance of the journalists demands by the Chief Minister.
Speaking to the media, the Secretary-general of IJU Mr. K Sreenivas Reddy thanked the Chief Minister for accepting the just demands. He also thanked the managements and editors of the print and electronic media for their co-operation for the success of the agitation.
|