 | |
 Vanglaini | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | K. Sapdanga |
| Founded | 1978; 47 years ago (1978) |
| Language | Mizo |
| Headquarters | Aizawl,India |
| Circulation | 45,000 |
| Website | www |
Vanglaini is a daily newspaper inMizoram,northeast India, published in theMizo language.[1] It is registered with theRegistrar of Newspapers for India (no. RNI 34227/79. : MZR/67/2012-2014). It is owned, edited, and published byK. Sapdanga. It remains the newspaper in Mizoram with the largest circulation.[2][3][4]
Vanglaini has instituted the "Mizo Award" to any living Mizo or group of Mizos who have made exemplary achievements. The first award was given in 2011, and was scheduled to be given every three years. The award carriedINR 100,000 with a trophy. From 2017, the award money was doubled to INR 200,000.[5][6]
At the17th Lok Sabha election,Vanglaini published a list of candidates for Mizoram constituency on 11 April 2019,[13] the day of voting.[14] The electoral symbol ofMizo National Front party candidateC. Lalrosanga was given as Ni (Sun) in place of arsi (a star). MNF, the legislature party of Mizoram, was infuriated, as its president and Chief MinisterZoramthanga reacted, saying, "This is done either deliberately or purposefully to undermine the MNF party and our candidate because the editor of the paper is the leader of our opponent and the joint editor himself is ZPM-Congress joint candidate."[15] They also asserted that the newspaper had misprinted their symbol in the past election.[16]
The main rival of MNF was Tetea Hmar,[17][18] who contested as an independent candidate but officially supported by theMizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (representative of theIndian National Congress) andZoram People's Movement parties.[14][19]Vanglaini had a close link with ZPM; Hmar being its joint editor, and K. Sapdanga, the editor, was the leader of ZPM.[18] Hmar was popular as a favourite candidate as "Mipui Candidate"[20] or the "People Candidate."[21]
Although Sapdanga publicised an apology throughWhatsApp on the same day,[13] stating it was an inadvertent mistake.[16] He officially submitted an explanation to the election officials, as well as to Rosanga, who accepted the apology.[22] However, the MNF demanded apology for their own which they did not receive,[13] claiming that it was not only a "deliberate act" to mislead voters,[23][24] but also a breach of theelection code of conduct.[13] The Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra directed the Returning Officer Vanlalngaihsaka to file thefirst information report to the police. The police issuedorder to show cause to Hmar and Sapdanga.[25][26] Hmar and Sapdanga were registered for criminal offences under sections 171-F and 171-G of theIndian Penal Code "for allegedly deliberately publishing a misleading report."[24]
ZPM and Congress parties were in turn angered by such actions, claiming that Hmar had no role in that particular issue or authority over the newspaper, such that it was only to undermine their candidate.[17] Following a voting incident in which at several polls, Hmar's serial number was wrongly displayed (5 instead of 4), the two parties filed complaints to the CEO accusing the RO of incompetence and well as leaking the order to show cause of Hmar on social media before it was approved.[15][23]