Prominent Imphal-based newspapers, including the daily that was burned down by alleged members of BJP’s youth wing, left their editorial columns blank on Monday in protest.
Copies of vernacular newspaper Poknapham were set on fire by unidentified miscreants in front of the BJP’s party office at Nityapat Chuthek here on Saturday over allegedly disparaging content against the Prime Minister.
“The editorial column has been left blank today in protest against burning of an Imphal-based newspaper by BJP’s youth wing,” the editor of Sangai Express said.
Widespread condemnation
The president of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union, W. Shyamjai, condemning Saturday’s incident, told reporters that “the act of burning the paper amounts to promulgation of mob culture”.
“If the parties involved are unable to settle the matter at the level of AMWJU, they can approach the court,” he said.
The BJP Manipur Pradesh Yuva Morcha did not discuss the matter with the editors and the publishers of Poknapham, Mr. Shyamjai added.
‘Right forum’
Echoing similar sentiments, president A. Mobi of Editors’ Guild Manipur said the members of the political party should have approached the right forum instead of burning editions of the vernacular.
A BJP party functionary said the “Vox Populi” column in Saturday’s edition of Poknapham earned the wrath of his party members. “The content which appeared in the ‘Vox Populi’ column of the daily is being considered derogatory against the Prime Minister,” he said.
Case headed for PCI?
The functionary, however, did not confirm if the copies of Poknapham were burned by his party members. “The case might be taken to the Press Council of India,” he added.
