IT News
Imphal, April 24:
Media houses in Manipur have decided to boycott all news related to Government of Manipur and BJP Manipur Pradesh following their failure to respond to appeal by media houses to clear pending advertisement bills by 4 pm of 23rd April 2022.
A joint meeting of the publishers, editors and representatives of AMWJU, Manipur Hill Journalist Union, held at Manipur press club today-23rd April 2022, recalled the media appeal made by a joint meeting 15th April 2022 asking the Manipur Government and BJP Manipur to clear pending advertisement bills by today. However, following no response from the Government and BJP Manipur, the meeting decided to go ahead with the boycott. In case of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee of INC, the meeting resolved to give some time following assurance given by its President.
The boycott, according to the resolution, will cover all news related to Manipur Government, ruling parties-BJP and NPF. The boycott will also include all government advertisements including those of its authorities, corporation like the PDA, LDA etc.
The media boycott will however not include the offices of the Governor, the Speaker, Covid-19 and pandemic related news including medical emergencies. Crime related stories of law and order will also be exempted from the boycott, as per the resolution.
The boycott will come into effect from 24th April 2022 till the pending bills are paid or an understanding has been entered with the parties concern.
The boycott came after the government failed to clear the bills even after series of assurances given by the Chief Minister and Chief secretary of the Government of Manipur.
The media bodies had suspended an earlier boycott call following personal intervention of the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary.
Bills running into crores of rupees are pending with the government while bills running into lakhs for advertisements made in connection with just concluded 12 Assembly election have been pending with both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress(I).
Media houses in Manipur is reeling under financial strain following the pandemic and rising cost of news production. It has been appealing to the government to take a sympathetic view of situation to avoid the confrontation.
