SHILLONG, April 5 � From trying to muzzle press freedom through a �very stringent law,� to branding media as �publishing house of terrorist organisation,� Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had his say. Now he has been blacked out by the media for half-a-month, demanding withdrawal of his statement.
No news related to the CM has been published for the past 15 days in the State, as Meghalaya Editors� and Publishers� Association (MEPA) and the Shillong Press Club (SPC) expressed concern over his statement.
The CM made the announcement to regulate the media on March 10 in the just-concluded Budget session. He said during a Motion on tourism that: �I intend to come up with a very stringent law to regulate it (media) because law and order is a subject of the State.
We need to do that. I am also writing to other Chief Ministers and also I am writing to Prime Minister and President of India on this issue�, he had stated.
The CM believes that the media is responsible for the negative image of the North East. While emphasising Government�s effort to bring in tourists, he said: �The media has also been instrumental in painting North East with a negative image.�
Meanwhile, MEPA has decided to continue with its decision to black out any publishing material, be it news or otherwise, related to the Chief Minister until he withdraws his controversial remark against the media.
