| 'Main aapko jail bhijwaoonga, aapke akhbar ko band karwaoonga' | | Akber loses his cool, threatens ET reporter | | K Koushal
JAMMU, Dec 16: Living up to NC traditions of muzzling the press, the Minister of Higher Education, Mohammad Akber Lone threatened an Early Times scribe of dire consequences when he contacted him over an issue in his department.
"Who are you? Why are you worried about the higher education policy? Who has entrusted upon you this task of raising question over the policy? Tum mujhe nahi jaante, Main bhi vakeel hun, Main aapko jail bhijwaoonga, agar aapke akhbar ne mere khilaaf kuch bhi likha, mere khilaaf ek bhi khabar chalaai, main aapke akhbaar ko band karwaoonga (you don't know me, I am a lawyer myself, I will put you behind the bars, if your paper reports any news against me, publishes any news against me, I will censor your newspaper)," he threatened.
The scribe wanted to know about the implementation of Educomp smart classes in colleges established before 2005 and the failure of ministry to start the much hyped programme. The scribe had learnt from sources that an amount of over Rs 10 lakhs is lying unutilized in the accounts of Principals of the respective colleges, Minister went out of temper and even dared to say.
The Minister even reacted over this in abusive language and said- "Aapko kahan se pata chala us paise ka, aapko kisne kaha Principal ke account me paise aaya, Aisi koi policy hi nahi, aur aap hote kaun ho mujhe yeh poochne wale (From where you get to know about the money?, who told you the money is lying in the accounts of Principals,? By the way, who are you to ask me about it? )
The Minister crossed all limits of decency and intimidated the scribe saying, "Main woh mantri hun jo aapke akhbar se darne wala nahi hun, tum exploit karte ho, paise ainthte ho, mera naam nahi suna hai". (I m not the minister who is afraid of your newspaper, you people used to exploit, used to extract money through illegal means, don't you know who I am?).
When this journo said you would be quoted for your blunt reply, he without waiting for a second said, "Daalo, daalo daalo, mene tum jaise bade akhbar wale dekhe hai, aapko yaad nahi hai jab aapne mere pawon pakde the, me aaoonga aapke office dekhne aur koi bhi khabar mili to aapko jail bhijwaoonga." (Write whatever you want. I will visit your office and if there is any news against me, I will send you to jail). |
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