NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday “strongly deplored” the reported arrest of two editors of vernacular newspapers in Manipur and demanded their immediate release, alleging a “double engine assault” by the Modi government and the Manipur dispensation on the state.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera described the incident as “yet another crackdown on press freedom”.
Alleging the arrests as the handiwork of “BJP-controlled police”, Khera said first Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, the editor of vernacular daily Kangleipaki Meira, and then editor of Meitei language newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao, Dhanabir Maibam, for “promoting enmity on the ground of religion and race”.
Kera also said Congress endorses the objections raised by the All-Manipur Journalists’ Union, of which Shyamjai was a former chief.
“The Indian National Congress strongly deplores the arrest of the editors of reputable vernacular newspapers. We firmly believe that journalists should be allowed to pursue their professional duties without fear of intimidation, especially when reporting on matters of public interest. We firmly endorse the objections raised by All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) and Paomi Welfare Foundation,” Khera said.
Alleging a string of assaults on press freedom when attempts were made to report the true picture of the strife-ridden state, Khera said all this was done to escape accountability for the “callous mishandling” of the situation.
“The double engine assault by an apathetic Modi government and discredited BJP state government on Manipur has resulted in the death of more than 200 people, injuring 1,100 people and displacing 67,000 people, in the past eight months,” he said, accusing government of indulging in “brazen authoritarianism”.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera described the incident as “yet another crackdown on press freedom”.
Alleging the arrests as the handiwork of “BJP-controlled police”, Khera said first Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, the editor of vernacular daily Kangleipaki Meira, and then editor of Meitei language newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao, Dhanabir Maibam, for “promoting enmity on the ground of religion and race”.
Kera also said Congress endorses the objections raised by the All-Manipur Journalists’ Union, of which Shyamjai was a former chief.
“The Indian National Congress strongly deplores the arrest of the editors of reputable vernacular newspapers. We firmly believe that journalists should be allowed to pursue their professional duties without fear of intimidation, especially when reporting on matters of public interest. We firmly endorse the objections raised by All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) and Paomi Welfare Foundation,” Khera said.
Alleging a string of assaults on press freedom when attempts were made to report the true picture of the strife-ridden state, Khera said all this was done to escape accountability for the “callous mishandling” of the situation.
“The double engine assault by an apathetic Modi government and discredited BJP state government on Manipur has resulted in the death of more than 200 people, injuring 1,100 people and displacing 67,000 people, in the past eight months,” he said, accusing government of indulging in “brazen authoritarianism”.
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