Leikai Gi Wakat: An outlet for the voiceless citizens
How long shall we wait till our leaders become media-sensed ?

Seram Neken *

Impact TV's "Leikai Gi Wakat"

Reputed news channels around the world always boast of their being able to enlighten the audience on various issues and to provoke the establishment to react to people's voices.

The newly set up Imphal-based cable network 'Impact TV' recently started a localized programme entitled "Leikai gi wakat", through which the local people can raise their voice over any grievances facing them.

Being an encouraging media initiative to bring in participatory governance, the programme is sure to invite wrath of the responsible people who are affected by the voice of the people. However, wisdom lies where the leaders carefully listen to the people and exercise their patience.

Leaders, who tend to expose their wrath against the media initiatives, will always be blamed by the society for their immaturity of thought and action. Hence, we should always presume Media as a bridge connecting between the governed and the government, as well as between the public and their leaders.

During the last state assembly session, one of the cabinet ministers of Manipur (Agriculture Minister, Md. Nasir) vehemently expressed his neglect of the press saying that he had not read newspapers for the last few months due to his unreliability of the media.

The embarrassing statement of the minister was swiftly subdued by the media-sensed chief minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh by observing that ministers and MLAs must read newspapers regularly.

In fact, importance of the media must be inculcated among our ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats and other public leaders, so that they can understand the pulse of the people.

At the same time, it must be borne in mind that what the media expose are meant to bring about corrective and remedial actions on the part of responsible persons or organizations. At the same time, the mission of the media has been and will always be 'constructive'.

Hardly a week after one of the reporters of Hueiyen Lanpao had received threat from a so called Internal Security Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for taking a snap of his flag-post and beacon-lighted car, a report came to the media that one of the MLAs (Th. Biswajit Singh of Thongju assembly constituency) intimidated the Impact TV network to erase its local programme 'Leikai gi Wakat' telecasted some days back.

Notwithstanding the authenticity of the allegations included in the said programme, the manner of reaction of the responsible MLA towards the media organization is condemnable. Every leader must deal with the media diplomatically, judiciously and legally.

If any media production affects the leader, he can very well lodge defamation charges against the media through proper channel. He can also make prompt clarifications pertaining to public allegations through the various media channels or newspapers politely. Media should be dealt with with due respect and politeness.

'Threat' is not the language of responsible public leaders. Law is very much there to counter unaccounted charges made against leaders or individuals or organsations.

Instead of taking the legal course, the said MLA outburst his emotions and warned the media office to erase the programme.

Subsequently, the Editors' Guild Manipur countered the MLA's threat by asking the latter to withdraw the intimidation within November 25.

The scenario is counter-productive and reputation of the public leaders will be maligned with such happenings.