Ban on Telegraph lifted
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 30 2011:
The ban imposed on the Telegraph by Apunba Lup has been lifted following an agreement reached between between the daily and the leaders of the Lup.
In a meeting facilitated by the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) the Regional Manager of Telegraph Pankaj Thakur stated that the report on Sharmila which was carried in the September 5 edition of the paper had no intention or bias save as one news story.
The General Manager further expressed regret if the story had caused any harm or mental anguish to the people of Manipur or any private individual.
To avoid such incident in future, the Imphal correspondent of the paper will be kept informed whenever any correspondent or reporter of the paper comes to Manipur.
The Telegraph representative through the Apunba Lup apologized to the people of Manipur for the mistake.
Earlier, the Apnba Lup had insisted that the Editor or the News Editor should come down to Manipur to apologise charging that the the timing of the news story appeared to be an attempt to divert attention from the people's issue.
But the Lup backed down from their stand following the intervention of AMWJU and out of regard for the freedom of press and agreed on any responsible persons representing the paper.
The Apunba Lup also on its part stated that it had nothing against telegraph but had to take the step of banning the paper as the publication of the particular story had the possibility of distorting the people's movement.
The two sides also agreed to allow the sale of Telegraph from tomorrow.