Apologise for remarks against journalists: CM Sarma to Mallabaruah

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: State PHE Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah's derogatory remark on journalists has left a trail of protests from the journalist fraternity and different other circles in the state. So much so that Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged Mallabaruah to tender an apology.

An allegation of the sanctioning of around Rs 50 lakh in subsidies to a dairy farm owned by Minister Mallabaruah's wife has been doing the rounds in the state.

The minister did a media briefing to clarify the issue of subsidies sanctioned to his wife's dairy farm yesterday. During the press briefing, the minister made a derogatory remark against journalists.

Reacting to the remark made by Minister Mallabaruah, the Chief Minister today said that 'maybe the words used by Mallabaruah were not appropriate'. "The journalists do their duty, and nobody has the right to use derogatory words against them," he said, adding, "If Jayanta Mallabaruah used derogatory words against journalists, he should tender an apology. If need be, I will also tender an apology."

Speaking to the media, state BJP president Dilip Saikia said that the media write in favour of and against any personality, and everybody should tolerate that without being driven by emotions. "We can't expect that the press will always write in our favour. Reporting is their duty," he said.

Information and Public Relations (IPR) Minister Pijush Hazarika said, "If the remarks made by Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah hurt anybody, as a colleague, I express sorrow for that."

Meanwhile, various organizations, including Guwahati Press Club, registered their protest today against the derogatory remarks made by Mallabaruah against journalists.

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