ITANAGAR, Oct 13:  Reacting to the news report published by this daily on a group of MLAs from West Kameng and Tawang holding a dinner meeting in Delhi on September 14 last, the Chief  Minister’s office  (CMO) has categorically denied the report.
In its statement, CMO stated ‘ Apropos to the article entitled “Will Religion in Politics see PD Sona as Khandu’s successor” published in a local daily Viz. Eastern Sentinel on 13th October 2022, is not true. The Chief Minister’s Office outrightly rejects the claims made in the article and clears its stand that no such dinner or meeting was held as claimed by the “Special Correspondent” in the said local daily. As per records, Hon’ble Speaker was in Jaipur attending the UN Democracy Day function. Similarly, other MLAs mentioned in the article were either in their respective constituency or somewhere else but not in Delhi on 13th September. 
The content of this article, therefore, is clearly a deliberate attempt of the writer with malicious intent to incite communal and religious disharmony among the people of the State. The so called “highly placed source” in this article is none but a creation of the writer himself.
This is the second instance where the same newspaper has deliberately attempted to misguide the people of the state with false and concocted stories. It is gross misuse of freedom of press with ulterior political motives which is a threat to peaceful co-existence of various tribes and religions in the State.
The CMO condemns such irresponsible reporting and asks the media houses to be more responsible while writing and broadcasting stories that do not have any substance and truth. The divisive tactics used to create confusion and incite communal disharmony will not be tolerated and strict actions would be initiated against dailies carrying such unfounded news items.
Meanwhile, MLA  Thrizino- Buragaon Kumsi Sidisow also denied having any kind of meeting in New  Delhi as reported by the daily Eastern Sentinel. However, MLA  Kalaktang informed that he went to Delhi  but for some personal work and also refuted the claim made by the daily on having any kind of meeting.

EDITOR'S NOTE

ES stands by its political news "Will Religion in Politics see PD Sona as Khandu's Successor?" dated October 13, 2022.
Such clarification from a political office on behalf of any constitutional office shall not be entertained next time. 
Further, the news is categorical on the date of the said dinner, that is, September 14, 2022; Not September 13, 2022 as mentioned in the CMO's response. 
Political news is always sourced. Reporting an event with names, date, location and meeting agenda cannot be termed as rumor mongering or sensationalism or breach of journalistic ethics. ES stands by its report.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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