DIMAPUR, MARCH 18 (MExN): The press fraternity of Kohima has expressed extreme displeasure over the consistent array of disparaging remarks against the fourth estate by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. “Whereas, Mr Rio’s consistent negativity towards the press fraternity and his open skepticism and patronizing attitude towards the journalist has been observed, the chief minister put the proverbial last straw on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on March 17 morning session of the ongoing budget session,” a press statement said.
When a member from the opposition bench referred to a newspaper report to substantiate his observation/remark, the chief minister asked the house not to believe media reports. On other occasions too, the chief minister has asked reporters to desist from charging the government and has often advised the press how to go about their business, the Kohima Press Club said.
The Press fraternity has taken on record serious notes of the chief minister’s remarks and attitude towards the media fraternity and considers it as “an attempt to muscle the fourth estate in a dictatorial attitude which has no place in a democratic set up.”
“It is also observed with apprehension that when the chief of a state displays his power in this manner, a wrong message is sent to the people about the democratic norms in Nagaland.”
In consonance with this, the Press fraternity of Kohima in an emergency meeting convened by the Kohima Press Club on Saturday regretted that the chief minister should desist from attacking the media in general and that grievances or misreporting if any by individuals should be specified and addressed in a different way. The meeting also agreed that if the chief minister continues with his anti-media remarks, the media fraternity in the state would be compelled to defend its sacred profession and resort to its own course of action.
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