Shillong, jan 08: The Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) which is the apex body of all media houses in Meghalaya expresses its grave concern over the incident that occurred on January 6, 2020 at the Main Secretariat, Shillong where senior journalist E M Jose was misbehaved and mistreated by Home Minister James K. Sangma.
The MEPA in its emergency executive committee meeting held today (January 7, 2020) has discussed the incident in details and felt that the behaviour of the Home Minister towards the senior journalist is unbecoming of his stature since the concerned senior journalist and his colleagues present had wanted to meet the minister and discuss various issues related to the State.
Since James K. Sangma is a minister in charge of various departments and also the fact that he is the official spokesperson of the MDA Government, it is the duty of the journalists to meet him to get the version of the government on various issues. But the manner in which the said minister conducted himself and even trying to aggressively confront the senior journalist E M Jose is totally condemnable and unacceptable.
Therefore, the MEPA has resolved to demand an immediate public apology from James K. Sangma for his misbehaviour towards the senior journalist and also to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future. Media has the right to ask question from those in power and if the right of the media is throttled, the future of democracy will be in peril.
