Cross-check and verify credential before officially entertaining any entities, says NPA
DIMAPUR, JULY 7 (MExN): The Nagaland Press Association (NPA) today expressed shock over the formation of Nagaland Chapter of the Newspapers Association of India (NAI) and meeting the head of State without even bothering to “inform and coordinate with the existing Newspapers published from Nagaland.”
“The Association is surprised to learn about the submission of a memorandum to Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya by the NAI led by one Monojit Singha, Convener Northeast Zonal Committee and accompanied by Thungchamo Humtsoe claiming to be its Nagaland State coordinator,” informed the NPA in a press statement.
NPA further clarified that none of the functional newspapers in Nagaland are aware of “this recent initiative of the NAI” and it has been verified that none of the “office bearers of its Nagaland Chapter” is affiliated to any of the local newspapers.
No matter the concern or good intention it may have, the Association said it simply cannot accept the manner in which the NAI has taken such a step to connect with the Nagaland government “through backdoor” and “more disturbingly engaging with local youths who have no credibility or authority to represent the existing newspapers.”
Further informing that the memorandum was personally received by the Governor himself on April 18, at Raj Bhavan, Kohima and the office of the Chief Secretary has “directed the concern department to look into the memorandum,” the Association said that it was “equally shocked that the office of the Governor, Chief Secretary and DIPR did not find it worthwhile to cross-check and verify with the Editors and Publishers of newspapers in Nagaland.” “Instead showing utter neglect and ignorance, the government has gone to the extent of entertaining such organizations who come through the backdoor and whose representatives have no connection at all with the local media,” it maintained.
In this connection, the NPA urged the state government to carefully scrutinize the genuineness and credibility of any organization like the one in question before “it entertains officially and clarify the matter in order to protect the image and credentials of the genuine media persons in Nagaland.”
