Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah faces backlash for derogatory remark against journalist
Guwahati: The Media Association of Assam (MAA) and the Guwahati Press Club (GPC) have strongly condemned Assam’s Public Health Engineering Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah for his derogatory remarks against a journalist during a press conference in Guwahati on 27 June.
The minister, while responding to a question related to the Gir cow controversy, reportedly told a journalist from the Sadin-Pratidin group, “I will not speak to inferior people like you… I will answer when your owner asks me a question.”
The MAA has demanded an immediate apology from the minister, while the GPC, without naming Baruah, expressed serious concern over the increasing trend of politicians insulting journalists when asked critical questions. “A person has every right to not answer a journalist. But insulting them or their media house is undignified,” said GPC president Susmita Goswami.
In a joint statement, MAA president Hiren Chandra Kalita and secretary-general Chandra Kumar Shaikia expressed outrage and urged all journalists to boycott the minister until he issues a public apology.
The GPC reminded political leaders that if they are unwilling to be questioned, they should avoid holding press conferences and instead issue statements. It also reiterated that such behaviour will not deter journalists from carrying out their responsibilities. “The voice of a free press cannot be stifled,” it said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Remarks against St Francis Xavier: Right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar gets bail
Panaji (PTI): A court in Goa on Saturday granted bail to right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar, who was arrested after he allegedly made derogatory comments against St Francis Xavier.
Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco, granted regular bail to Khattar, currently admitted to Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim for treatment of chest pain after he was shifted from the District Hospital in Mapusa two days back.
A row erupted after a video of remarks by Khattar, the founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, at an event on April 18 in the presence of Swami Brahmeshanand, State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankulp Amonkar and Daji (Krishna) Salkar, went viral.
St Francis Xavier is revered as the patron saint of Goa.
The controversial remarks led to the Vasco Police registering an FIR against Khattar on charges of hurting religious sentiments and creating enmity between groups.
He was detained in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, by local police. His custody was later handed over to the Goa Crime Branch, according to officials.
