The Shillong Press Club and the Meghalaya Editors’ & Publishers Association (MEPA) have taken strong exception to a social media post of the VPP Youth Wing to protest against one of the signatories of a letter seeking apology from its president Ardent M Basaiawmoit for his remarks on two local news channels.
Basaiawmoit in a public meeting held at Nongstoiñ, West Khasi Hills District on January 15, 2025 had cast aspersions on the manner in which t7 and Batesi TV news channels were reporting stating these new platforms are misleading the public.
The two bodies had sought an apology from the VPP president signed by the SPC president Deimaia Siangshai and vice president of MEPA Rajib Choudhury.
However the VPP youth wing had labelled Choudhury a “mynder” (foreigner) in a social media post which called for a two-wheeler rally on February 6 to protest against the demand for an apology.
“The signatory for the MEPA, who is also the Vice President of the Association is a long-standing member of the press fraternity here and has worked in Meghalaya for over three decades. Under no circumstances can he be labelled as “mynder” (foreigner),” the bodies said.
MEPA and SPC said the media in Meghalaya is a cohesive whole and does not practice any form of communalism or racism but has remained a united fraternity serving as the fourth pillar of democracy with all the conviction they can muster. “It is therefore a racial slur to term a senior member of the press fraternity who is officially accredited by the State Directorate of Information and Public Relations as an ‘outsider’ when he is very much an Indian citizen like everyone else, unless the VPP considers Indian citizens residing in Meghalaya as foreigners,” they said.
The press fraternity said it is committed to disseminating news as per media ethics without any fear or favour and without unduly patronising any political party.
