Imphal, April 08: Following the series of news reports detailing the slurs cast on the Power Department by The Sangai Express, the Zomi Students' Federation, besides taking up the cudgels on behalf of Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing has warned that if 'The Sangai Express continues itself to be used as a platform for communally divisive and vindictive propaganda, the Zomi Students' Federation will impose a total boycott on the newspaper in Churachandpur district'.

In a statement issued to the press today, the student body said that it condemns the attempts to tarnish the image of the Power Minister, after carefully studying the report of alleged misuse of funds in the Power Department (As reported in the April 1 issue of TSE) .

'The ZSF rejects and gives no credibility to the so called expose' by The Sangai Express on the mere basis of some verbal utterances by the ex-Chief Engineer, Power.

It is also interesting to note that The Sangai Express is the only newspaper that keeps publishing negative press on the Minister,' alleged the student body and added that the actual issue does not merit to be even called a graft charge as the newspaper itself had clearly stated that funds were diverted for payment of long pending Department Liability Lists, which was prepared by a Committee headed by the CE, Power.

The Minister himself had also clarified on the matter and it should have ended then and there, asserted ZSF.

Terming the reports as a well orchestrated smear campaign against the only Zomi representative in the Cabinet, the ZSF alleged that it is a covert ongoing policy to undermine and marginalise the Zomis in the State administration.

Recalling that two senior most police officers belonging to the Zomi tribe were killed by militants, the student body said that the State Government has till date done nothing to book the culprits.

Now a nexus of certain media elements, bureaucrats and politicians combine have launched this repeated campaign against one of the senior most Zomi leader for obvious political gains, asserted ZSF.

Denouncing the 'partisan and biased role by The Sangai Express,' the student body questioned whether the only objective of a newspaper is a scoop, expose' or sensationalism.

'Has this particular newspaper scrutinised fund release, utilisations and misappropriations in other Engineering Departments,' asked the student body and further questioned whether any demand for a probe was raised when police raided the residences of MLAs/Ministers and arms including a rocket launcher were seized.

'Why the deafening silence when army produced documents for huge monetary contributions made by leading politicians to certain militant groups,' countered the student body.

The statement also questioned whether the MLAs shouting hoarse on the issue know or care about the impending Mautam famine somewhere in the State.

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