RS MP’s men infringe Press Freedom by intimidating Editor for reporting fund misappropriation

IT Desk

Imphal, June 30,

Two persons who identified themselves as close associates of the Rajya Sabha MP K. Bhabananda came to the residence of Imphal Times Editor Rinku Khumukcham to intimidate the newspaper asking the motive for reporting the misappropriation of Local Area Development Fund reported in this newspaper yesterday.

Citizens or any political workers or bureaucrat officers have all rights to clarify/refute any reported news to be wrong and also have right to go to the Law Court if wanted to initiate action against any report by newspaper if it turn out false. But the law of the land does not permit any person to question newspaper journalist on why the news is being published.

Those people seem to forget that a huge amount of public money has been looted in the name of taking up developmental works. And looting of public money is a crime punishable under the law of the land.

The two persons who identified themselves as close associate of Rajya Sabha MP K. Bhabananda besides being office bearer of BJP Manipur Pradesh had infringed upon the freedom of press by asking question which should only come through law court. Their motive of directly coming to meet the editor seems like a warning if continued to report about the misutilization of public money under MPLAD.

Any unwanted thing happening to any staff of the Imphal Times should be the responsibility of the two persons and the Rajya Sabha MP K. Bhabananda who reportedly sent them to the residence of the Editor of this newspaper. Whether it may be in the form of accident, or road rage or any unusual attack, Imphal Times will presume it as a handy work of them for reporting the misappropriation of MPLAD.

Starting from tomorrow Imphal Times along with a TV channel will highlight the reality of how the MPLAD have been looted. And reporting about the misappropriation of fund (public money) is totally in the interest of the people.