Mukul lambasts tiol media

A Correspondent

Shillong, March 10:  Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today said that the tiol media was instrumental in painting a negative picture of the region even as he said that the local media gave publicity to militant groups.

Replying on the motion on the functioning of the Tourism Department in relation to its failure to promote tourism in Garo Hills, Dr Sangma said, “When good things happen in the region the media (tiol) hardly carries them.”

Dr Sangma also regretted that the tiol media did not report the loss of 66 lives in the state last year due to floods and landslides.

The Chief Minister also said that negative reporting of the region by the tiol media has deterred potential tourists from visiting the region.

He also criticised the local media and accused them of highlighting the activities of militants groups.

“The media is acting as the number one publicity house of the militant organisations,” the Chief Minister added.

Dr Sangma also threatened to promulgate a stringent law to regulate the media.

“I intend to come up with a stringent law to regulate the media. I am writing to other chief ministers of the North-eastern states and I will also be writing to the President and the Prime Minister to correct this,” the chief minister said. Later speaking to reporters, opposition chief whip, James K. Sangma said that the Chief Minister’s comment was like ‘shooting the messenger.’

“You cannot blame the media for your mistakes. When you run on excuses, you are trying to hide your mistakes and failures,” James said.