DIMAPUR, AUGUST 25 (MExN): Congress MLA and former chief minister, K.L. Chishi has demanded public apology from the Dimapur based DIPR personnel for reportedly “misquoting” him on August 21 during an advocacy meeting on HIV and AIDS at Council Hall, Walford colony Dimapur.
In its report, DIPR quoted Chishi as having said that AIDS is a God’s curse. This statement drew comments from various organisations related to HIV and AIDS.
Speaking to media persons on Friday, Chishi expressed “shock” to have read the report in the newspapers misquoting him. Chishi clarified that he had said, “HIV and AIDS is a dreaded disease and it will continue to be a dreaded disease unless we control it through social and religious interactions involving various groups of society.”
“I said HIV and AIDS is not a curse from God. God has given two choices to mankind – good and bad. If you choose good one nothing occurs to us but if you choose bad one that affects us and others including unborn child,” he clarified.
Stating that the disease was not curable but preventable, Chishi said one should love and care for people affected with HIV and AIDS. With this clarification, the former chief minister demanded an apology from the DIPR personnel, through the media within one week “failing which my hands will be forced to file a defamation suit in appropriate court of law against him and Director of IPR.”
Director of Care Centre People’s Development Society, Kevi Z. Stephen who organised the advocacy meet also said that Chishi was “wrongly misquoted” and that the words “God’s curse” did not arise.
MO incharge of ART centre District Hospital Dimapur, Dr. Hotoka Hesso who was a resource person during the August 21 meet said that at no point of time did Chishi said anything like God’s curse. “It was clearly shocking and misquoted,” he added. Dr. Hotoka said that the campaign to eradicate HIV and AIDS has a “very sorry state” if IPR comes up with such false statements and we as care givers have no hope to fight this dreaded disease.” Dr. Hutoka said that Chishi has been leading them at the front in the fight against the disease.
