Media persons hold sit-in strike in front of Rabindra Shata Varshiki Bhawan , submit memorandum to CM

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 9, 2026

A large group of journalists and editors in the state today held a sit-in front of the Rabindra Shata Varshiki Bhawan on a nine point charter of demands. From the morning a large number of journalists from subdivisional , bock and district headquarters had converged on the area in front of the iconic Rabindra Shata Varshiki Bhawan to take part in the sit-in programme.

Senior journalist and editor-proprietor of ‘Ajker Fariyad Patrika’ Shanit Debroy led the programme along with the editor-proprietors of ‘Syandan Patrika’ and ‘Tripura Bhabishyat Patrika’ Subal Dey and Pranab Sarkar respectively . Prominent among speakers in the sit-in programme was Shanit Debroy who highlighted the multiple problems faced by the media persons working in the state like insecurity, lack of office and home spaces and constraints in payment of pension to the journalists by the government. However, Shanit Debroy also took a jibe at the felicitation of 26 journalists by the state assembly authority on February 3. Senior editors Subal Dey and Pranab Sarkar also addressed the gathering and spoke on similar lines.

Speaking to this outlet Pranab Sarkar resented the omission of veteran and octogenarian journalist Satyabrata Chakraborty from the felicitation programme as he is the only surviving journalist to have covered legislative proceeding from the days of Territorial Council (1957-1963), Union Territory assembly (1963-1971) and full-fledged assembly (1972-2000) . However a senior spokesman of the assembly said that Satyabrata Chakraborty’s named had been dropped only because of his advanced age and sickness but the nonagenarian journalist Sroto Ranjan Khisa (95) had been duly invited and felicitated because he is still physically fit .

However, later a delegation of protesting journalists led by Shanit Debroy , Pranab Sarkar and Subal Dey had met the chief minister Dr Manik Saha in deputation in the latter’s official residence and submitted a memorandum containing a nine-point charter of demands. The demands include-1) ensuring security for all media persons working in the state, 2) speedy disposal of cases and justice for the slain journalists Santanu Bhowmk and Sudip Datta-Bhowmik, 3) action against forces trying to muffle the voices of media by misusing administrative power and social media, 4) allotment of free land to the low-income group of journalists at work all over the state, 5) increase in media pension and government contribution to journalist welfare fund, 6) relaxation of 50% tariff for power bill emanating f rom media offices, 7) in crease in advertisement quota for all forms of media , 8) teular advertisement for weekly newspapers, 8) introduction of insurance for ever-deprived newspaper hawkers, 8) stoppage of misuse of press stickers etc.

But the two most significant demands are calling halt to the attempt at imprisoning journalists in the name of privilege notice proceedings and removal from the post of such persons and adoption of censure motion against militant-turned-MLA for fulminations against the media and provision for security for the concerned editor. The chief minister is reported to have assured the delegation that he will look into the matter.

more news...