APCC Holds Convention to Boost Media Teams, Pledges Solidarity with Journalists

In a major push to reinvigorate its media outreach ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Saturday successfully held a Media Convention at the Manabendra Complex in Dispur, Guwahati. The event aimed at strengthening the Congress party’s communication network, mobilizing grassroots spokespersons, and reaffirming its commitment to press freedom in the state.

The convention was attended by prominent Congress leaders including APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, Assam Media Incharge Charan Singh Sapra, and key representatives from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) — Harshad Sharma, Onika Mehrotra, Nighat Abbas, and Rashmi Miglani. Senior APCC functionaries and district-level spokespersons were also present in large numbers.

Addressing the gathering, Gaurav Gogoi underlined the pivotal role of media and party spokespersons in safeguarding democratic institutions and supporting the media fraternity in an increasingly hostile environment. He issued a clear directive to Congress spokespersons across Assam to stand in solidarity with journalists facing harassment or intimidation — especially those targeted by BJP leaders.

"In these challenging times, when the BJP government is systematically undermining democratic institutions, it is our duty to protect the pillars of democracy, including a free and fearless press," Gogoi said. "Journalists must be able to do their job without fear of reprisal. Their work is crucial in holding those in power accountable, and the Congress will defend their right to report the truth, even if that truth is critical of us."

The convention comes against the backdrop of a growing climate of fear among media professionals in Assam, with several high-profile incidents of threats, abuse, and politically motivated legal action against journalists.

Gogoi highlighted a number of recent incidents that, he said, demonstrate the BJP-led Assam government’s efforts to suppress dissent:

• In June 2025, Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah made derogatory remarks during a press conference, calling a journalist a "lower-class person." The comment drew widespread outrage from press bodies and civil society, leading to a boycott campaign and a belated apology reportedly issued only after the Chief Minister’s intervention.

• In March 2025, journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar was arrested and re-arrested over his critical reporting. Media watchdogs condemned the move as “systematic harassment” and an attempt to silence dissenting voices.

• There has also been a rise in online abuse, police investigations, and arrests of media personnel over social media posts and reporting perceived as critical of the BJP government, contributing to Assam’s declining press freedom ranking.

“These acts of intimidation — including insults from ministers and religiously charged targeting of journalists — are a direct assault on the Constitution and on the soul of democracy,” Gogoi said. “The Congress party will not stand idle. We support every journalist in Assam, regardless of whether they praise or criticize us. A vibrant democracy depends on diverse voices, not fear and suppression.”

The Media Convention also focused on strengthening the Congress's organizational capacity ahead of the 2026 elections. Gaurav Gogoi announced a new plan to establish dedicated media teams at the grassroots level — from booth to village — to amplify the Congress’s message on inclusive development, social justice, and the fight against corruption.

He urged local spokespersons to become the “eyes and ears” of the people, highlighting issues of governance failure and exposing corruption under the current BJP regime. “It is essential that our party machinery is as close to the people as possible. Only then can we truly represent their aspirations and grievances,” Gogoi said.

Assam Congress leaders said the convention marks the beginning of a renewed effort to build a robust, responsive, and decentralized media strategy that empowers district-level workers and counters the BJP’s narrative machinery.

With less than a year and a half to go before the 2026 Assembly polls, the APCC’s media convention signals the Congress’s intent to take the battle for public opinion directly to the grassroots, while positioning itself as a defender of democratic freedoms — especially press freedom — in Assam.

Also Read: Truth or Tamasha? The Unmaking of Indian Media