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| Omar demeans media | | 'Go to those who speak outside House…' | |
ET Plus Report
Jammu, Mar 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a day after being accused by the PDP of lowering the dignity of the House, reduced the dignity of Media by indirectly hinting that it's the media which is projecting the opposition party.
Omar on Monday he first refused to speak to media but he went by just saying " You talk to the people who speak outside the House." He said this when he came out of the house after attending the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the
Legislative Council. The Media Persons who were not allowed to cover the oath ceremony of the newly elected MLCs waited eagerly for the Chief Minister to react on the present situation in the Assembly, but the CM ignored them and went his way.
The Chairman of the Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra when contacted said that he was not aware that the media was not allowed in the Oath ceremony.
According to the sources, CM had instructed the authorities, not to allow media in the ceremony as he doesn't want to talk to the media. The CM was making reference about the PDP which has not only been boycotting the remaining session of the budget session but has also made statements outside the Assembly, after having staged a walk out on number of issues. The PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed too on Sunday said that they 'Would go to people rather than a mock house.' He said the government is isolated from the people and has lost its political character and moral authority to govern.
The CM may be right in speaking about his mind on this issue, as House without the opposition lacks the sanctity of the democratic institution.
However, by refusing to speak to media and in a manner which can be termed demeaning this institution, amounts to shooting the messenger. The media has been reporting what is being done inside or outside the House. It's its job to cover both the government and the opposition. If the government is not forthcoming on some issue and opposition is making allegations than media is bound to act. But to target it for doing its duty amounts to lowering its dignity. The CM off late has not only avoiding media but has been selective also. He gave interviews to a selected news channels after Afzal Guru was hanged but deliberately barred some who have been critical of him and didn't give a single to print media.
A senior N Delhi based journalist criticizing Omar had said earlier he was media loving now he is media savvy, clearly suggesting that he chooses to use media to his own advantage and refuse to acknowledge its responsibilities and needs when they need response of the chief minister.
Omar had been accused of being arrogant and high headed but all along till now, he had been one of the few chief ministers who had been quite forthcoming in interacting with media, but now when is under pressure from the opposition, for which media is not to be faulted, he is throwing his anger and frustration at them but this only going to harm more than helping him. |
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