SHILLONG, MAR 20: The Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) held an emergent meeting on Friday and discuss the reply of chief minister Mukul Sangma to the adjournment motion brought by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on the CM’s statement against the media fraternity.
MEPA issued the following press statement after the meeting:
The attention of Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) was drawn to the statement of Chief Minister in the August House wherein he has argued that members of the House enjoy the privilege to speak and no one who is not a member has the right to question what is spoken in the August House.
MEPA questions whether it is legislative privilege to level allegation such as “media acts as publicity house of terrorist organization and it is only paid news that they want to carry”.
MEPA members state that they are seasoned professionals and understand their roles and responsibilities. They feel that no legislator has the right to make sweeping statements against anyone in the August House and hide behind the legislative privileges.
MEPA had approached the Chief Minister on March 16, 2015 requesting him to withdraw the derogatory statement but had received no response. Following this MEPA decided to carry a blank editorial. When this issue was taken up in the house on Friday (March 20, 2015) MEPA considers it a grievance addressed by a responsible member of the Assembly and not an attempt to gag the legislative privileges of any member.
The media carries out its duties to inform the public on all issues that affect them. As such there is no intention to be a mouthpiece of any group, organization or individual. MEPA, therefore, feels that the allegation levelled by the Chief Minster to be misplaced, derogatory and irresponsible.
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Shri. Philip Marwein Shri. R.M. Shabong
General Secretary President
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