Imphal, Nov 18: Almost all major newspapers based in Imphal had stopped publication today as distributors and hawkers has refused to pay new denominations or change in buying newspapers from the media houses.
A protest demonstration denouncing the unavailability of new denominations and change was held today at Keishampat Leimajam leikai Community Hall jointly organized by All Manipur Newspaper Publishers Association and the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors Association. Members of AMWJU and the EGM also showed solidarity to the protest.
Rs. 500 and Rs 1000 denominations are relaxed for emergency purpose including buying of medicines and payment of hospital bills in government hospitals and other government counters till November 24, but media houses are excluded and accepting the demonetized denomination would amount to inviting trouble to the media houses said, a publisher while talking to Imphal Times. On the other hand when asked about arranging alternative means like accepting e-cash, the publisher said that most of the hawkers and distributors do not have bank accounts and those who still have bank accounts do not have ATM or debit cards. This was ascertained by a representative of the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors Association who was also joining the protest. “We will stop the publication until the government arrange new denominations as well as the usable cash to the hawkers, as accepting the same old notes would amount to inviting trouble”, Manaobi, the publisher of Hueiyen Lanpao daily said.