Mumbai Press Club Deplores Rahul Gandhi Referring to Journalist as ‘BJP Worker’

New Delhi: The Mumbai Press Club has deplored the “public humiliation of a journalist” by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his press conference at the party’s headquarters on Saturday, his first detailed response to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha following the March 23 Surat court verdict sentencing him to two years imprisonment for criminal defamation.

Gandhi referred to a journalist in a press conference as “a BJP worker”, asking the journalist to “not pretend to be a pressman”. “Kyun hawa nikal gayi,” he told the reporter derisively – ‘have I let out all your air?’ – after admonishing him for not bringing a BJP flag with him. [See 25’42” in the video below]

The Press Club, which is vocal on media freedom issues, said that it is a matter of concern that “political parties of all hues have been attempting to browbeat journalists using derogatory language and threats as a response to news reporting they find unpalatable.”

Its statement appeals to “all political actors to uphold the freedom of the press to report and provide critical comments”. They have also said that they think it would be “appropriate” for Gandhi to “make amends and offer an apology to the journalist concerned.”

New Delhi: The Mumbai Press Club has deplored the “public humiliation of a journalist” by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his press conference at the party’s headquarters on Saturday, his first detailed response to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha following the March 23 Surat court verdict sentencing him to two years imprisonment for criminal…

New Delhi: The Mumbai Press Club has deplored the “public humiliation of a journalist” by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his press conference at the party’s headquarters on Saturday, his first detailed response to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha following the March 23 Surat court verdict sentencing him to two years imprisonment for criminal…