Badaruddin Ajmal apologises for abusing journalist, faces FIR

Correspondents

Lakhimpur/Gossaigaon/Joysagar/Golaghat/Demow/Dhekiajuli: A day after abusing a journalist, and threatening him of “smashing his head”, Lok Sabha MP Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal expressed his apologies on Thursday, saying he respects mediapersons. Ajmal, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam’s Dhubri constituency, landed himself in a controversy on Wednesday over the episode.

Ajmal, who leads the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), faced condemnation from different sections over the incident. Several media organisations have threatened to file FIRs against him.

The organizations in Lakhimpur district expressed strong reaction against AIUDF chief as well as MP Badruddin Ajmal. Regarding the incident, the central committee of All Assam Unemployed Association burnt the effigy of the MP at Adarsha Bazaar premises in North Lakhimpur town on Thursday. The organization vehemently condemned the misdeed of Badruddin Ajmal and demanded the State and the Union governments to arrest him immediately. State secretary of the organization, Jiban Rajkhowa expressed resentment over the district administration concerned for not arresting the person for his offence. “A common person is immediately arrested when he commits such kind of offence, but it is surprising that the MP is still not arrested despite attacking the fourth pillar of democracy,” he said while leading the protest programme.

North Lakhimpur Press Club (NLPC) also slammed Badruddin Ajmal for ‘bullying’ the journalist with non-parliamentary words and his attempt to assault the journalist. NLPC president Sailen Baruah and secretary Karuna Krisna Nath termed the act of the MP as ‘attack on media’. They demanded the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the President of India to initiate due steps against the MP on the basis of the model code of conduct of the Parliament. They further called upon the journalist fraternity of the State to protest his misdeed unitedly.

The Lakhimpur district unit of Hindu Yuva Chatra Parishad (HYCP) too condemned Badruddin Ajmal regarding the incident. Through a press release in this connection, Lakhimpur president of the organization, Jugmajyot Dutta, vice-president Rajib Singh and secretary Madhab Das demanded to ban the AIUDF for allegedly disturbing peace and harmony in the State, sponsoring religious politics, and extending silent support to jehadis in order to expand their network. Central executive member of the organization, Bitumoni Gogoi said, “Badruddin Ajmal has made various communal comments at different times. HYCP State president Balen Baishya filed a case at Geetanagar Outpost in Guwahati against him on January 22, 2016. But police were not potent enough to arrest him. The people of Assam should boycott the AIUDF chief who did not hesitate to rush at a media person to physically assault him.”

Demow Press Club has condemned the alleged misbehaviour of AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. The Golaghat district unit of Sangbadik Suraksha Mancha, Asom (SSMA) and All Assam Digital Journalist Association (AADJA) Golaghat district unit have alos strongly condemned Ajmal.

On Thursday in a press statement, Golaghat district SSMA president and secretary, Prabin Kr. Das and Bichitra Goswami respectively, and AADJA president Jituranjan Gohain said that Badruddin Ajmal’s alleged comments and threat to a journalist could not be ignored. They slammed Ajmal for his attitude towards to journalists. On the other hand, the president and secretary of Golaghat AAPCU, Nobin Gohain and Pranab Chakraborty, lodged an FIR against MP Badaruddin Ajmal at Dergaon Police station. The Dergaon PS registered a case No. 877/18 U/S 294/500/506 against Ajmal. Activists of Oikya Sena Asom, Golaghat district unit came out on the road under the leadership of chief secretary Taufik Ahmed and burnt the effigy of Badruddin Ajmal at Numaligarh on Thursday and lodged an FIR against him at Numaligarh police outpost.

Mediapersons of Sivasagar, Sivasagar AIYF and AISF have condemned Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal for allegedly threatening a journalist on Wednesday during a public meeting held at Mancachar. The Indian Patriotic Federation (Socialist) also condemned the act. Media persons of Sivasagar have demanded necessary action from the government to ensure safety and security of mediapersons.

Gossaigaon MLA and Gossaigaon Press Club have condemned Dhubri MP and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday. Gossaigaon Press Club secretary Dulal Ch Rai has demanded proper action and also appealed to organizations, political parties and people to respect the fourth pillar of democracy.

Activists of the Muslim Yuva Chatra Parishad, Sonitpur district union burnt the effigy of AIUDF chief Badruddun Ajmal on NH-15, Dhekiajuli town on Thursday. The activists demanded immediate arrest of Ajmal and shouted slogans against him for allegedly threatening a journalist on Wednesday.

Apologising over the episode, Ajmal, who is also a perfume trader, wrote on Twitter: “Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and I have always respected media persons and everyone knows that. I have sincere regards for them. The Mankachar incident was an unintentional aberration and I sincerely apologize for that to all concerned.”

Guwahati-based Digital Media Journalist Association of Assam (DiMJAA) has said it will file an FIR against Ajmal on Thursday. Members of the media fraternity also staged a protest on Thursday at Dispur Press Club, wearing black badge. The AIUDF chief got agitated on Wednesday when a journalist asked him if he will side with the party that comes to power in New Delhi. He was addressing a press conference at Mankachar to honour the AIUDF leaders who won in the recently held rural polls in Assam. Ajmal not only verbally abused the journalist but also asked him to get out of the venue. “I’ll smash your head,” he said, while snatching the boom of the journalist.

Also read: Massive Protests staged against AIUDF Supremo Badruddin Ajmal across Assam, FIR lodged