Media bodies seek action against J&K MLA for threatening press
New Delhi, June 24: Media organisations on Sunday demanded strict action against Jammu and Kashmir BJP MLA Choudhary Lal Singh over his "threatening and intimidating" remarks directed at journalists in the Valley.
The Indian Women's Press Corps, Press Club of India, Press Association and the Federation of Press Clubs of India said in a statement that Singh, a former J&K Minister, had warned journalists at a press conference in Jammu to "draw a line".
He openly threatened them with consequences and warned them of a fate similar to that of Shujaat Bukhari, the Editor of Rising Kashmir who was shot dead less than a fortnight ago, the statement said.
Bukhari's assassination was condemned by people in general, besides a number of journalist organisations.
Condemning his remarks, the statement said that Singh also blamed Kashmir journalists for creating a "wrong atmosphere" and told them to control themselves.
Singh resigned from the state cabinet in April following his participation in a rally organised by the Hindu Ekta Manch in January in support of those accused of rape and murder of a young girl in Kathua.
"We demand that strict action be taken against the lawmaker for making threatening remarks hinting possible violence at journalists in the Valley," the statement said.
It said that such remarks were nothing short of criminal intimidation and a direct attack on the freedom of the press.
"They also serve to vitiate atmosphere and endanger the lives of journalists who work and live precariously in conflict situations," the statement read.
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MUDA case: CM has done nothing wrong, will come out clean, says DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Sep 25: Karnataka deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday backed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged MUDA land allotment scam, saying the latter has done nothing wrong and that he would come out clean in the matter.
He also said Siddaramaiah has no role in the matter and there could be the involvement of officers.
"The order given by the court to investigate him will happen. We are confident that there is no involvement of the Chief Minister," Shivakumar told reporters here.
He said, "if there is anything wrong happened then it must have been done by the officers, which I don’t know, but there is no involvement of the chief minister. I am making it very clear. He will come out clean. That is the message."
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Shivakumar said some people have expressed their views but they have not pointed out that the Chief Minister has done anything wrong.
On opposition BJP and the JD(S)' demand for Siddaramaiah’s resignation, the DCM said, "people who do politics will continue to do so but isn't there a difference between law and politics."
"There are so many investigations happening against many central ministers but they are still continuing (in their post). Let them resign first then we will discuss about this (Siddaramaiah) resignation."
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday upheld the sanction granted by State Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to conduct an investigation against Siddaramaiah on the allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi by MUDA in Mysuru.
The HC had also vacated its August 19 interim order directing the Special Court for People's Representatives to defer the decision on complaints against the Chief Minister, giving the green signal for ordering a probe.
It had also dismissed Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the legality of the Governor's August 16 order granting approval for investigation under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988.
