NCW condemns ANI reporter for abusing PTI journalist, ANI suspends journo
Bengaluru/New Delhi, Mar 28: National Commission for Women member Khusbhu Sundar on Thursday condemned the physical and verbal abuse of a PTI female journalist by an ANI reporter in Bengaluru and demanded immediate action against him by his employer.
An FIR has also been registered by the PTI reporter against the ANI journalist in Bengaluru.
ANI editor Naveen Kapoor said in a post on X that the reporter has been suspended while the investigations are going on.
The incident happened at a press event of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his MP-brother D K Suresh on Thursday.
The PTI reporter said that the ANI correspondent physically assaulted and abused her with sexual expletives. The incident was captured on camera and the ANI reporter was seen striking the young woman reporter twice on the face while he was pulled away by other journalists and people in the scrum.
Reacting to the incident, NCW member Khusbhu Sundar demanded action in the matter.
"I vehemently condemn the behaviour of the male journalist who is seen physically and verbally abusing the PTI female journalist in Bengaluru today. Want @smitaprakash to take action immediately," she said in a post on X.
Kapoor said in his X post that, "ANI does not in any manner condone or approve of violence by journalists in the field".
He claimed that the PTI post is "selective and seeks to suppress the first attack by the PTI journalist as per what our reporter tells us".
"Our reporter is also filing a First Information Report in relation to the unprovoked attack on him. We trust the legal process to take its course and disclose the complete facts," he said.
However, he said, "Till the investigation process is not completed, the ANI reporter has been suspended".
PTI stands by its report and denies that its reporter assaulted the ANI journalist.
VIDEO | Abominable behaviour by ANI (@ANI) reporter who physically assaulted and verbally abused with sexual expletives a young PTI female reporter at a press event (@DKShivakumar @DKSureshINC) in Bengaluru today. Does ANI (@smitaprakash) condone such behaviour by its staffer?… pic.twitter.com/kZhz8MleoC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 28, 2024
ANI does not in any manner condone or approve of violence by journalists in the field. This post is selective and seeks to supress the first attack by the PTI journalist as per what our reporter tells us. Our reporter is also filing a First Information Report in relation to the… https://t.co/nAMEgtRgPx pic.twitter.com/uGCDJBPbZL
— Naveen Kapoor (@IamNaveenKapoor) March 28, 2024
I vehemently condemn the behavior of the male journalist who is seen physically and verbally abusing the PTI female journalist in Bengaluru today. Want @smitaprakash to take action immediately. https://t.co/6FTDCjc1GE
— KhushbuSundar (Modi ka Parivaar) (@khushsundar) March 28, 2024
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It's govt's responsibility to support youth who dare to dream: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the government may not be able to provide jobs to everyone, but it can create an ecosystem for youngsters to become entrepreneurs and innovators.
It is the responsibility of the government to support youth who dare to dream, he said.
After inaugurating the 11th National Conference and Exhibition on Emerging and Innovative Trends in Engineering Technology (NCEEITET) at the Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) in Jammu, Abdullah said, “We may not be able to provide jobs to everyone, but we can certainly create an environment where our youngsters become entrepreneurs and innovators.”
The two-day conference is being organised by the GCET in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur and the World University Consortium (WUC).
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah assured that all necessary steps would be taken to strengthen infrastructure and support systems at the GCET, ensuring that it continues to evolve as a premier institution.
The chief minister also inaugurated a new building for the School of Architecture in the college, built at Rs 19.71 crore.
Stressing the need to balance modernity with the region’s cultural and historical identity, Abdullah said, “Not every building needs to be made of glass and steel. Our structures must reflect our heritage and preserve our cultural ethos.”
Highlighting the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, Abdullah said they could significantly improve tourism management, visitor experience and service delivery in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he cautioned that technological advancement should complement human effort rather than replace jobs, especially in a region where unemployment remains a concern.
The chief minister said that attracting tourists to Jammu and Kashmir was not difficult, but ensuring repeat visits required consistently enriching experiences and better infrastructure across tourism segments, including pilgrimage, border and leisure tourism.
To address the infrastructure gaps in the college, Abdullah announced that funds would be provided this year for the construction of an auditorium.
He also assured support for setting up an incubation centre in GCET.
During the event, Abdullah also released the e-proceedings of the conference, comprising 28 shortlisted research papers.
