Following an assurance from the State government to release advertisements without any discrimination, the Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) has withdrawn the call to boycott North East Olympics Games 2022
Subsequent to the boycott call given by the Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) to the North East Olympics Games 2022, the Commissioner & Secretary, Finance, Government of Meghalaya Vijay Kumar called the MEPA for talks to resolve the issue.
In response to the call for talks, today an eight-member delegation of MEPA led by its president R Monarch Shabong and general secretary John W. Thabah met Kumar at his office.
John W. Thabah, General Secretary, MEPA in a press statement said, “During the discussion, the MEPA delegation referred to the discriminatory policy adopted by the government pertaining to the release of advertisements for the North East Olympic Games 2022 including preferences given to newspapers from outside the State. “
The MEPA delegation also raised its strong objection to the pick and choose policy adopted by the government as far as release of advertisements are concerned and demanded that first preference should be given to local media houses on equal share basis.
Kumar has given his assurances to address all the grievances raised by MEPA. He also promised that advertisements related to the North East Olympic Games will be issued to all media houses of Meghalaya without any discrimination or partiality. He also earnestly appealed to the MEPA to withdraw its boycott call.
“Therefore, in view of the positive outcome of the meeting, the MEPA has decided to withdraw the media boycott to the North East Olympic Games 2022 being held in Shillong,” he added.