IT News
Imphal, April 16:
Media in Manipur have decided to boycott news related to the Manipur government, ruling political party BJP Manipur Pradesh and Opposition Manipur Pradesh Congress (INC) over non clearance of advertisement bills. A joint meeting of publishers, members of Editors Guild Manipur(EGM), Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MHJU) and All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), which is supporting the movement, was held at Manipur Press Club on April 15, 2022 and has given all three parties till 23rd of the April 2022 to clear all pending advertisement bills.
A joint press release by EGM and AMWJU said, “In case of the two political parties, the bills pertain to election advertisement of the just concluded 12th Manipur State Assembly Election. Bills running into lakhs of both the parties, mostly outsourced to external advertisement agencies, remain unpaid even as the election process has ended and government installed. The meeting resolved to appeal both the Presidents of BJP Manipur Pradesh and MPCC to clear the bills by 23rd April 2022 or face boycott.”
In case of Manipur government, bills running into nearly Rs.10 crores have been lying unpaid for several years. The issue was raised by the media fraternity on 27 November 2021 through a memorandum to the then IPR Minister. An assurance from Chief Minister and strict instruction to his Ministries led to suspension of any form of agitation and the media fraternity waited. A meeting with the Chief Secretary of Manipur also resulted in further assurance to clear all bills by 31st March 2022. However, nearly 5 months since the issue was raised, except for around 10% of pending bills, no further payment have been forthcoming, the statement added.
Media houses already reeling under the impact of COVID 19 pandemic and shrinking market have been accommodative to the government’s problems. The joint meeting set 4 pm of 23rd April 2022 as the deadline for clearance of the bills failing which a meeting is being convene on the same day to discuss the method and details of the boycott.
It further said, “ Notwithstanding the strong stand taken by the meeting, those attending the meeting express hope that both the political parties and the government will be sympathetic to the appeal of the media and avoid any confrontation which is not the purpose of the resolution.”