IMPHAL, December 23: Reacting to a news report that he had made a comment about 20 Manipuri Muslims had left to train with the Taliban, the state dy Chief Minister today appealed to the media fraternity to confirm their sources and news reports before publishing something which could hurt religious sentiments of other people.
Addressing a press conference at his office chamber at the Old Secretariat this late evening, he reacted to a demand for his resignation from a certain community based organisation against his alleged comment, by stating that he had never made any such statement.
While negating making such statements, the Dy CM who also hold the Home portfolio condemned such report which was carried on December 22 by certain local media persons.
What has been reported by the newspaper is not his comment, the Dy CM said before declaring the report as unfortunate.
He further declared that he has been wrongly pulled into the news item and the newspaper has provided wrong information to the people of the state.
Congress believes in secularism, and has been working for the development and welfare of every community without keeping any differences between the communities of both hills and valley of Manipur, he said.
The party respect each and every religion and the communities staying together in the state with different culture, tradition, language, he said.
He further expressed that the news item could have been politically motivated; before appealing to the media persons to check on the details and reconfirm the sources of such sensitive news in the interest of the people of the state.
Such reporting is not only malicious but also dangerous, he lamented.
Even if the statement was made by a former DGP of the state, it is unfortunate and if true such sensitive issue should not be made public, he said.
While asked by the media persons about the measures taken up by the police department for the rescue of an FCI rice loaded tata truck driver who had been kidnapped by unknowned armed miscreants from along the Imphal-Jiribam Highway, the Home minister said the police are on high alert for the safe rescue of the driver.
He said he is in constant touch with the concerned officers of the case.
