NSCN (I-M) has condemned News18 and “blacklisted” it for reportedly misquoting its steering committee executive member V. Horam. In a statement by its ministry of information & publicity (MIP), NSCN (I-M) regretted that despite a clarification issued by Horam on how he was misquoted by the reporter, the news channel was still yet to carry it.
MIP explained that all that Horam had told the reporter was “Nagas being Christian community need to be alert. Naga Army and our intelligence agencies are alert even though there is no visible threat at the moment”.
However, the news News18 reported “NSCN (I-M) vows to defeat ISIS in case they choose to attack Nagaland.” It is annoying the way News18 dramatised Horam’s statement, the organisation stated. According to NSCN (I-M) the reporter had unnecessarily sensationalised Horam’s statement by exaggerating actual words and intents. Under the circumstances, the organisation said it is left with no option but to condemn News18 for its “irresponsible professional practice” and “as a counter measure” blacklisted it with immediate effect.