SHILLONG, MAR 11: National People’s Party (NPP) legislator James K Sangma and the Shillong Press Club –SPC- have taken exception to the remark of the chief minister calling the media the “number one publicity house” of militants and blaming the media for what the chief minister alleged negative reporting.
Sangma told the ongoing budget session of the Meghalaya assembly that chief minister Mukul Sangma owe an apology to media for his blanket-blame accusing them of ‘negative reporting’. He said, “The chief minister owes an apology to the press of Meghalaya.”
On Tuesday while replying to a motion, Sangma had categorically accused the local media as the number one ‘publicity houses’ of the terrorist organization. He also alleged that the national media are responsible and instrumental of deterring people from visiting the north eastern states because of negative news they always report.
James Sangma said, the chief minister should not have accused the media as the media in the state have always maintained a balance which is also known outside. He informed, “I also come from a media background and I know that media reports objectively as they have to show something what really is happening.”
James Sangma also said the media played an important role in bringing transparency and accountability. He added by saying, “When they report as it is, you don’t shoot the messenger for the message he carries.”
Meanwhile the Shillong Press Club- SPC- in an emergent meeting held on Wednesday noted with concern the comments made by chief minister on Tuesday on the floor of the assembly, wherein he blamed the media-both national and local-for lack of adequate dissemination on issues pertaining to the state and north east region as well.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the SPC president David Laitphlang and general secretary Powell Sohklet said the Shillong Press Club takes exception to Dr. Sangma’s allegation that local media were acting as “publicity houses of terrorist organisations” and finds the accusation in bad taste.
The statement said the Shillong Press Club iterates its commitment to free and fair journalism for the benefit of the people of the state in all aspects and expects the government to support the media in the state in this endeavour.
The statement also said the SPC views with concern the statement of the chief minister that the government would consider coming out with certain laws to check the media in their discharge of duty and this is seen as an attempt to gag the press and freedom of expression, which is the fundamental right of all Indians.
The statement further said that the Shillong Press Club would like to place on record its sincere commitment to serve the people of the state diligently without fear or favour to the best of its ability and welcomes criticism that will build the fourth pillar of democracy as it strives to work for the overall benefit and betterment of the state.– By Our Reporter
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