DIMAPUR, JUNE 11 (MExN): Nagaland State Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Imkong L Imchen today criticised sections of the national electronic media for their reaction to Nagaland Chief Minister, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu’s condolence message on the demise of former NSCN (K) Chairman, SS Khaplang.
The CM’s condolence message on June 11 had prompted certain sections of the national media to question how a state government leader could condole the demise of an “extremist”.
Imchen, coming to the defense of the CM, issued a statement today questioning why the “national electronic media are so much against the statement of my Chief Minister on this issue.”
“I stand behind every word of the statement of the Hon’ble Chief Minister. This statement of support is issued not because I am a Minister in his cabinet but as a concerned Naga citizen,” he added.
The Minister further stated that the fourth estate is one of the crucial organs of Indian polity and government. “They are no doubt part and parcel of the Nation builders and therefore are expected that they present every news item without fear and favour so as to serve the citizen of the nation with the correct information and present the correct perspective.”
The Minister said he was “really agitated” that certain media outlets had “chosen to attack” the CM. “According to me those media persons have ulterior motive rather than serving the Nation to denigrate the intellect of my Chief Minister,” he added.
“They don’t realise that by their presentation they have utterly misled the nation and therefore they are not worthy to be called members of the Fourth Estate community or fraternity. My words I have purposely selected to put across to the people that those media persons have not served the Nation but misled and put the Naga political issue in a wrong perspective,” the Minister said.
