I, Shri. Hayithung Bill Lotha, Ex. MP (Lok Sabha) can.. 2019 & 2024 India’s General Election and Ex. candidate for the 2023 37 Tiyi Assembly Constituency, Wokha, Nagaland State General Election; do herein in sound mind and good faith give this public statement enunciating that I demand an “Open challenge for a public debate on matters related to freedom of the press in a democratic polity against Shri. Y. Patton, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Nagaland State”.
The open challenge for a public debate may be preferably conducted at Dimapur Town Hall or if not feasible, the Deputy Chief Minister should announce the date and venue of his convenience, be it at Wokha Town, Kohima Town or any other place of his choice within the State of Nagaland.
Infact, “I will give him 72 hours (3 days) to accept and to prepare for the debate so that he will not run away from the debate when cornered. I challenge him and he must accept it”. I will see if Shri. Y. Patton dares to face facts and issues on press freedom.
It may be noted that this is not the first time such an incident has taken place, even last time Shri. Y. Patton in his speech during the Lok Sabha elections held in April, 2024, he publicly spoke that the public should go to the paddy fields on polling day, so that the village council authorities can freely vote for their preferred candidate. Dy. CM even was issued a notice by the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, Vyasan R., IAS for his remarks encouraging unethical voting practices which was caught on camera and later uploaded.
I must directly say to him that, “Shri. Y. Patton if you think you are feeling quite youthful like a sweet 16 which you always remind people’s repeatedly, and if you have a 56 inch chest, and if possesses a tiger’s ferocious heart, accept my open challenge in front of the beloved people’s of Nagaland”. If he has the courage and guts, the Dy. CM must come and face me. He must not play hide and seek game.
If one looks at it globally, political debates are quite common. One classic example is that of the US, where both parties have a Presidential candidates live debate. Democracy benefits from open and frequent exchanges of views by political leaders and the general public expect debates to demonstrate the important differences in views and leadership styles of the political leaders. Our Indian democratic process is born out of the ethical ideal of creating an informed electorate, a necessary ingredient of a healthy democracy.
Freedom of the press was formally established in Great Britain with the lapse of the Licensing Act in 1695. Sweden was the first country in the world to adopt freedom of the press into its Constitution with the Freedom of the Press Act of 1766. The United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states : “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers”.
On the expiry of the 72 hours dateline i.e. beginning 6 pm 28th August till 6 pm 31st August, 2025; if he accepts it well and fine but if he fails to accept the open challenge public debate he must give an “unconditional public apology to the press fraternity in Nagaland” for his conduct with immediate effect.
“The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments”. – George Mason
“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” – Thomas Jefferson, American Founding Father
( HAYITHUNG BILL LOTHA)
Ex. MP (Lok Sabha) candidate
Date :- 28th August, 2025
Place :- Dimapur
