NEW DELHI, October 25, 2026: The Rashtriya Patrakar Mahasangha (RPM) held its monthly organisational meeting through Google Meet on Sunday to discuss preparations for National Press Day on November 16 and the proposed November 26 demonstration demanding the declaration of the media as the Fourth Estate through central legislation.
The virtual meeting was hosted by RPM National Treasurer Mr. Dhiraj Kumar and presided over by National President Dr. Pabitra Mohan Samantaray.
During the meeting, members discussed organising National Press Day celebrations at the state level on November 16, 2026, and holding a demonstration on Constitution Day, November 26, to press for the long-standing demand for central legislation formally recognising the media as the Fourth Estate.
However, in view of the reported restrictions on protests and demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, the members unanimously agreed to explore an alternative venue for the proposed demonstration. It was further decided to hold a preparatory meeting on the coming Sunday to discuss the venue and finalise the arrangements.
The proposed demonstration has been jointly organised by the Rashtriya Patrakar Mahasangha (RPM), the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers (IFSMN), and the National Media Confederation (NMC), New Delhi, since 2024.
The participating organisations aim to draw the attention of the Government of India to the need for central legislation recognising the media as the Fourth Estate. The demonstration will also seek to highlight the pressing concerns of journalists and the challenges faced by small and medium newspapers and magazines. A comprehensive memorandum of demands is proposed to be submitted to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, and the President of India.
Among those who attended the meeting were Mr. Virendra Kumar Saini, Delhi-NCR President; Mr. Sushil Kumar Sharma, Organising Secretary; Mr. Mehetab Khan Chand, National Convenor; Mr. Tahir Ahmad, Programme Coordinator; Mr. Santosh Yadu, Raipur Coordinator; and Advocate Radhashyam Panda, Joint General Secretary of IFSMN. Mr. Chandra and other office-bearers and members from different states also participated in the deliberations.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Priyabrata Nayak, who expressed appreciation to the participants for their active involvement and continued commitment to the organisation’s objectives.
RPM reiterated its commitment to strengthening journalists’ unity, safeguarding media freedom, addressing the welfare concerns of journalists, and advancing the demand for appropriate central legislation to recognise the media’s role as the Fourth Estate in Indian democracy.
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