IMPHAL, February 22: The DIPR APO (Press), Th Samo, in response to the allegation made against him by the Editors`™ Guild Manipur, has in a press release clarified that the dispute between him and a member of the guild was personal and nothing more.
The release of the APO said he was acting only as per the provisions of the freedom of speech guaranteed to him by the Indian Constitution. He also said the same Constitution does not empower any journalist to barge into enter a government officer`™s room and bang the table.
He further returned the charge that pressmen are not above the law, further noting that this is so for any individual, be it Mobi or the president of whatever media organization.
He charged that he reprimanded Mobi on that day because he came inside his room and started banging his table. He however refuted there was ever a physical assault on Mobi although it was only respect the law which made him refrain.
He clarified that the incident was only a personal matter between two individuals and nothing official. Complaining about it to the government and demanding his removal from his post or boycotting anyone on the matter is going against media ethics, he charged.
Samo`™s note said Mobi should know that a government is not under any pressman threatening if Mobi tries to further tarnish his name, he will take up legal course of action. `Mobi should not try to take advantage of the post he is holding, and also should not disseminate wrong information to the newspapers`, he said.
It may be mentioned here that the Editors`™ Guild Manipur yesterday announced the boycott of the Chief Minister of Manipur, his Council of Ministers and all ruling MLAs.
According to yesterday`™s release of the Editors`™ Guild Manipur, the step was taken following the passing of the deadline of February 20 the guild set to remove Samo from his post, after a series of meeting with the Chief Minister.
The EGM has alleged that Th Syamo, APO (Press), DIPR verbally assaulted and physically threatened the president of EGM A Mobi when he visited his office along with the secretary general EGM Yumnam Rupachandra.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/apo-samo-calls-dispute-with-egm-member-personal-matter/