UDWJA condemns 'rude' behavior of Ukhrul DC
Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, December 22 2018:
The Ukhrul District Working Journalists' Association (UDWJA) has vehemently condemned the irresponsible attitude shown by Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul Dr Harmit Singh Pahuja towards Ukhrul based journalists who were covering an agitation in the town recently, said a statement of UDWJA.
The incident happened on December 19 when reporters from various media houses of different States, who were covering the protest rally of Zaoranao Shim Women Vendors Association (ZSWVA), entered the chamber of DC Ukhrul, to cover submission of a memorandum addressing to Chief Minister of Manipur by representatives of the agitating women vendors, it added.
The statement mentioned that the media persons upon entering the chamber of the DC, were ordered to leave by the DC, saying "Now you may get out.
We don't need you here".
He had even restricted the reporters from taking photographs of the act of submitting the memorandum by the women vendors making the reporters to leave, the statement added.
Taking strong exception of the rude behavior which is unbecoming of a district administrator towards the fourth estate, members of UDWJA convened an emergency meeting on December 20 and, after in-depth deliberation, unanimously resolved to condemn the conduct of the DC in no uncertain terms, said the statement.
It may be mentioned that the members of Zaoranao Shim Women Vendors Association has been agitating since December 13 against the allocation of stalls at the new women market and has launched a 'Hunger Strike', intensifying the ongoing agitation which has greatly disturbed the peaceful atmosphere of Ukhrul town and the festive mood.
UDWJA, considering the sensitivity of the issue at hand, appealed all the stakeholders to handle the matter with utmost care in a transparent manner to help resolve the matter at the earliest.