IT News
Imphal, April 19,
PS to the Chief Minister of Manipur Salam Ranjan Singh today clarified that the news item carried as various news channels including a local daily newspaper under the heading “Manipur Governor Najima Heptulla and Chief Minister N.Biren Singh jumped the queue to vote in the election to the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat” as baseless stating that the news item is bereft of truth and is made with malafide intentions. It has been made to damage the image and reputation of Chief Minister, by a journalist without himself being present on site to cover the event being reported.
The Item was webcasted on 18.04.2019 on the websites of News 18 (www.news 18.com), Business standard (www.business-standard.com) , NDTV (www.ndtv.com) , Business Television India (www.btvi.in), India Today (www.indiatoday.in), and The Quint (www.thequint.com), and also at People’s Chronicle, a local daily newspaper of Manipur, in its publication on 19.04.2019, a clarification note by PS to the CM S. Ranjan said.
The statement further said that the news item was circulated by IANS.
“On preliminary enquiry, it has been confirmed that the report was prepared by a journalist, Iboyaima Laithangbam . The said journalist was not physically present by himself at the polling station concerned at the time of casting of vote by Chief Minister”, S. Ranjan stated.
The extract of the news item is as follows:
“Manipur Governor Najima Heptulla and Chief Minister N.Biren Singh jumped the queue to vote in the election to the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat on Thursday .
Voters, some of who had lined up even before the polling stations opened at 7 am, were not amused.
Some pointed out that many other politicians had stood patient in queues along with the general people.”
The statement by PS to CM said that N.Biren reached the polling station no.2/16- Srivan High School located at Luwangsangbam Mamang Leikai at around 9:am. The said polling station is also notified as a model polling station. At the said instant, there was a small crowd consisting of media persons, security personnel and five women relatives of Chief Minister, at the entrance of the polling station . There was no queue visible at the entrance. There was no jumping of queue as alleged by the journalist therefore. Chief Minister respects all electors of the state and respects equality of all voters, the statement added.
