By Oken Jeet Sandham
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]tate media persons facing maltreatment while covering important Government events are not new. Such ill-treatment to the State media persons have been debated from time to time. And whenever such incidents happened, State’s Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) dealing directly with the media persons used to get blame for no fault of theirs too.
The recent incident that took place at Raj Bhavan, Kohima where the media persons – both print and electronic – were duped by officials from the Raj Bhavan was condemnable. Notably, such type of incident that took place at Raj Bhavan on May 23 was never heard of. That was an important occasion wherein serving Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio had to tender his resignation followed by Chief Minister designate TR Zeliang’s staking claim to form the next Government in the State. The media persons on the day just came for coverage of the turn of historic events taking place at the Raj Bhavan.
Look at the nature of incident. The officials at the Raj Bhavan told the media persons to wait at the Raj Bhavan Conference Hall and they would be called when photo session was ready. Interestingly, the waiting media persons were only informed when Rio and Zeliang left the Raj Bhavan. This unusual attitude had literally provoked them.Later, the DIPR owned up the responsibility saying that it was a communication gap. This explanation was, in no way, satisfactory. However, the wise intervention of the State Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar saved things from going out of control. He, on behalf of the DIPR, apologized for the blunder.
One thought the matter would end but the next day another blunder made to the media again. The media persons came to cover the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister along with other Ministers. When they reached the Raj Bhavan gate, they were stopped by the members from the State Special Branch asking them to check their names in the list they had. By the time, the media persons were instructed that they would not be allowed to go inside the Raj Bhavan with their cameras. “The ADC (to the Governor) has ordered us not to allow any media person to come with their cameras inside the Raj Bhavan for covering the Swearing-in ceremony,” said one staff from the State Special branch.
The media persons arriving first yet to overcome the shock they had the previous day’s incident by now questioned the logic of the order purportedly given by the Governor’s ADC. “What is the point going inside the Raj Bhavan to cover such an important event if they are not allowed with their cameras,” the media persons reacted, while some including this writer tersely said they would not attend the event to be again humiliated. However, later, they were allowed to enter with their cameras.
Time has come to sensitize not to treat the media as an object not to be respected. The wrong perception that media persons were disturbing or spoiling the events should be done away with. Imagine how beautiful the event would be if the media persons were there flashing their camera lights taking shots of the turn of historic events. Such activities would only enhance the beauty of the events. One should realize that it has become a universal phenomenon that media persons should be placed well ahead of the events. In some programs, some Chief Ministers refused to start the events when they found that media persons were seen absent or thinner presence.
The Governor’s apology on behalf of the DIPR is well taken. Yet, certain sensitization in the Raj Bhavan is essential. The officials in the Raj Bhavan should remember one thing is any event that takes place at the Raj Bhavan is important one unlike others that happen outside. And if the media persons are to be repeatedly treated the way they experienced, then the role of the Raj Bhavan will be under scrutiny.
Once I attended a small but memorable book release program at Raj Bhavan. The book – “A Walk to Emmaus – A Journey of Attitudinal Change” - written by Jonas Yanthan was released by Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar. The function was held at his sprawling green courtyard. At the end of the program, the climate turned out to be unfriendly and that was actually a blessing in disguise especially for those who attended the event. The light refreshment to be served at the sprawling lawn had to be now shifted to Governor’s residential drawing room.
Although I have been meeting with almost all the Governors since Lt Gen (retd) KV Krishna Rao, I never had an opportunity to sit with any of them in their residential drawing room. I honestly believe that those who attended the book release function also had the first time experience having the pleasure of accompanying the Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar and his Lady wife in their residential drawing room.
“Governor Sir, had it not been of the unfriendly climate, we would never have an opportunity of seeing your beautiful residential drawing room and the pleasure of having refreshment with you and your lady wife here,” I told the Governor. “No, No. Governor’s residence is your residence,” he retorted. “You can visit me any time and it is my pleasure to have you as my guests.”
The Governor further continued saying that he wanted the Raj Bhavan to be People’s Bhavan. “It should be open to all,” he said adding, “I have never seen Raj Bhavan till I became the Governor of Nagaland.”
The present Governor wanted to remove restrictions many of them are actually unnecessary. He wants a people-friendly Raj Bhavan and believes that media should be given free access to him as well as Raj Bhavan.
But his dream must have been shattered when his own staffs played mischievous role erasing a historical record that were to be done by the media persons on the day where a serving Chief Minister would tender his resignation. Remember this is the first time in the history of Nagaland where a serving Chief Minister had to tender his resignation before completing his tenure. When the media persons missed historic moment, the moment was missed forever.
