'Govt will walk hand-in-hand with 4th pillar of demo'

Itanagar, Mar 20: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has told the Assembly that the state government is sympathetic to the needs of the Press and would provide adequate and necessary facilities for their survival.

The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Kipa Babu on fears of attacks and intimidations on Press and a Government- friendly policy for them during a zero hour discussion yesterday.

While appreciating media for playing the role of torch bearer and beacon of the masses, Apang at the same time elucidated Article 194(1) (a) of the constitution which clearly states, ''All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and ex-pression'' while Article 19(2) provides reasonable restrictions on freedom of ex-pression.

Highlighting the sense of benevolence towards the youngest pillar of democracy, he informed that Govenhment had paid a sympathetic compensation of Rs 1.52 lakh to 'The Dawnlit Post' when it was ransacked by vandals in October 2000.

However, on the present apprehensions of threat perceptions to media persons, he informed that Government had received no written complaints from the Press Club or Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists so far.

'Government is sympathetic to the needs of media fraternity', he said, while appealing the latter to strictly adhere to its ethics and avoid 'yellow journalism'.

Urging the educated unemployed local youths to pursue the noble career, Apang said that Government would urge the centrally controlled media organisations, including Doordarshan and All India Radio, to follow the state Government's recruitment policy to facilitate more gainful employment to local youths.

Underscoring the importance of media particularly for a backward state like Arunachal, Apang said that Press drew its strength from society and the whole society needed to stand by it to strengthen its hands.

When Babu accused that ministers, MLAs, politicians, NGOs and students' unions of resorting to unethical practices, Mr Apang agreed that there could be a few black sheep among them, but their identification was necessary for initiation of exemplary action against them.

UNI