IMPHAL: On Friday, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and Hmar Students' Association (HSA), two tribal student organisations with roots in Manipur, have denounced the valley-based media outlets for allegedly disseminating "fake and one-sided news" about the violence in Manipur.
In a joint press statement, the tribal students bodies said , “We vehemently denounce the Valley-based media outlets, both printed and broadcast for violating media ethics, distributing false information and biassed news, and silencing the voices of tribal people. We impose a ban on all media outlets based in the valley due to ongoing instances of biassed news. We further urge everyone to support our prohibition on valley-based media outlets and report any instances of their presence on our property. Given that the valley-based media has evolved into a propaganda tool for the state administration, such a prohibition has become necessary.”
On the other hand, they further stated that , “The purposeful omission of anything that could be viewed as negative of the state government is much more troubling. We urge the news organisation to uphold the values of journalism and honestly represent the opinions of all groups.”
Moreover, on Friday, Nityanand Rai, an MHA from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the BJP National Spokesperson visited the conflict-torn area of Manipur where they met with the Committee on Tribals Unity in Sadar Hills in the Kangpokpi District as well as a number of civil society organisations. Since the start of widespread violence on May 3, this is the first time that central leaders have travelled to the severely afflicted Kangpokpi district.
Meanwhile , BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra emphasised that Home Minister Amit Shah has explicitly stated that those guilty for the violence in Manipur would not escape punishment in addition to the minister's remarks. Patra announced that Manipur's Home Minister Amit Shah would pay a three-day visit there to hear the people's worries.
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