The Indian Journalists’ Union has expressed concern over the reported move of the Ministry of Railways to withdraw the facility of concessional travel for accredited journalists. Accredited journalists get 50 per cent concession in the fare.
In a statement issued here IJU president S.N. Sinha and secretary-general Amar Devulapalli said that the facility was in vogue for several decades and aimed at facilitating coverage of events and developments in the country. The withdrawal of such a concession in the name of cost-cutting was retrograde and a blow to the freedom of the media.
They urged Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu not to withdraw the facility.