SHILLONG, MAR 10: Describing the media as “publicity houses of militants” chief minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday warned that his government would soon come up with ‘stringent laws’ to correct this. He told the budget session of the assembly, “Media are the number one ‘publicity houses’ of terrorist organization.”
Sangma was referring to the reports highlighted by media of the bandhs and other militants activities that sent negative message about the state. “I would come up with stringent law to correct this,” Sangma warned.
Sangma lambasted the fourth pillars of democracy during the course of his reply to a motion on the ‘failure of the government to promote tourism in Garo hills’ moved by Independent legislator John Leslee Sangma.
Sangma also accused the national media of writing only negative news about the north east which in turn deterred tourists from visiting this part of the country. Questioning as to how many feel good news are carried by the media, he said, “Media (especially national) are instrumental in painting the North East in a negative way which has caused irreparable damage.”
According to Sangma, tour advisories often warned tourists to take their own risk if they want to visit north east based mostly on what the media report of north east. He said, “The media are also instrumental in deterring visitors from coming to the NE and because of its ignorance, the whole of north eastern states including Meghalaya are being ‘painted with the same brush’.
Sangma, however, pointed out that media has failed to highlight when over 60 precious lives were lost due because of unprecedented natural calamity that struck Garo hills region last year.
He also questioned whether it is only paid news that the media want to carry.
Stating that this concern needs to be address, Sangma said the state government will have to engage with the union government for correction. He informed soon the state government will also write to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.- By Our Reporter
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