New Delhi: The Mumbai Press Club chastised Union minister Smriti Irani for her “bullying and threatening behaviour” towards a journalist in Amethi and demanded an apology, saying the “repeated arrogance” of ministers towards reporters is not in sync with democratic norms.
Irani, who is the Union minister for women and child welfare and minority development, was in Amethi – her constituency – on June 9, when journalist Vipin Yadav asked her to say a few words. But the minister took this “as an affront” and “ticked off” Yadav, the Press Club said.
Conversation between Amethi Lok Sabha MP Smriti Irani and reporter from Dainik Bhaskar. At one point in the conversation, Irani “thretens” reporter of complaint to Dainik Bhasker owners for allegedly “insulting” people of her Lok Sabha constituency. pic.twitter.com/fvOZQElTSO
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) June 9, 2023
“Smriti Irani, in video clips, is then seen getting angrier and sitting in her car and waving her finger at the off-camera journalist threatening him that she would speak to the owners of his newspaper – the Dainik Bhaskar,” the statement said.
The Mumbai Press Club said that it is “unfortunate and condemnable” that Irani “not only humiliated Yadav and threatened to have his employers take action on him but also invoked the ‘people of Amethi Constituency’ – as if asking a few questions to a minister was insulting to her voters!”
The statement also criticised Dainik Bhaskar, which allegedly relieved Yadav and another reporter, Rashid Hussain, of their duties a day after Irani’s threat. The newspaper “instead of defending their reporter against a minister who was trampling upon the freedom of the press, obliged the minister”, the statement noted.
Read the full statement below.
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The Mumbai Press Club (MPC) deplores the bullying and threatening behaviour of Ms. Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare and Minority Development, towards journalist Vipin Yadav, at Amethi, in UP.
From various media accounts, it appears Irani, who was on a visit to her Lok Sabha constituency, arrived at Krishna Nagar Chauraha in Amethi from the nearby Vidhan Sabha constituency of Salon. A few journalists, who had waited for her for over two hours, requested her to say a few words before she left with her entourage.
Irani, however, refused to meet the press, saying she had already spoken to the media in Salon. At that stage, Vipin Yadav again requested: “Aap Salon pe bole thi, abhi aap Amethi ke Jagdishpur Vidhan Sabha skhetra me hai toh yha bhi do sabd bol dijiye.” (You had spoken in Salon, and now that you are in Amethi’s Jagdishpur Vidhan Sabha constituency, say a few words here too.)
Taking this as an affront, the irked minister ticked off the poor journalist and told him that Salon comes under her Lok Saba constituency, and trying to force her to speak in Amethi, amounts to insulting the people of her constituency. Yadav pleaded he had no particular questions in mind, but all the gathered media persons wanted was a few bytes from her. Smriti Irani, in video clips, is then seen getting angrier and sitting in her car and waving her finger at the off-camera journalist threatening him that she would speak to the owners of his newspaper – the Dainik Bhaskar.
From both the video and the ground reporting of other journalists, it is evident that all Vipin Yadav was requesting the minister to address the gathered media persons. However, it is unfortunate and condemnable that minister Smriti Irani not only humiliated Yadav and threatened to have his employers take action on him but also invoked the ‘people of Amethi Constituency’ – as if asking a few questions to a minister was insulting to her voters! The repeated arrogance of ministers towards reporters who are on professional duty is not in sync with the democratic norms this country upholds.
According to news portal Newslaundry, Yadav and a reporter named Rashid Hussain have been hired as stringers by Dainik Bhaskar. To make matters worse, both Yadav and Hussain were relieved of their duties the next day, and their mic ID was taken away, and the newspaper even denied Yadav ever working as a newsgatherer for ‘Bhaskar.’ To hit someone who is down does not show Dainik Bhaskar in good light. It is well known that district-level stringers are poorly paid and are not provided proper employee documentation. ‘Bhaskar,’ instead of defending their reporter against a minister who was trampling upon the freedom of the press, obliged the minister.
The incident shows the kind of pressure Indian news media is functioning under, and the Mumbai Press Club hopes Dainik Bhaskar will stand up for its editorial staff. The MPC also demands an apology from Ms. Smriti Irani for her unacceptable public bullying and threats of media persons in Amethi.
Signed
Gurbir Singh
Chairman
Rajesh Mascarenhas
Secretary