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HomePoliticsAfter run-ins with media, Kumaraswamy threatens law to curb 'irresponsible reporting'

After run-ins with media, Kumaraswamy threatens law to curb ‘irresponsible reporting’

The Karnataka CM, who has boycotted TV news channels since 18 April, had accused the media of running a campaign against him and ridiculing his family.

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Bengaluru: Behind Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s threat to bring in a law to “control irresponsible reporting” in the media, particularly the electronic media, are a number of run-ins that he has had with the press in his state.

Speaking at a book launch Sunday, Kumaraswamy slammed the media in his speech. “I am thinking of bringing in a law. What do you think of us politicians? Are we jobless?” Kumaraswamy asked. “You (media) keep belittling us. Do we look like cartoon characters to you? What authority do you have to make everything look humorous?”

This is not the first time that Kumaraswamy has hit out at the media. In April, while he was campaigning for his son Nikhil in the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, Kumaraswamy said television channels were running negative stories against his son and his governance.

“I am not looking to seek any favours from these media houses,” an angry chief minister said.

Kumaraswamy was referring to the news coverage, which indicated that the widow of former Karnataka minister Ambareesh, Sumalatha, who was contesting as an Independent, had an edge over Nikhil in Mandya.

The chief minister had earlier been offended by the electronic media coverage of his father, Deve Gowda, and his family members weeping when the senior Gowda handed over his Hassan seat to grandson Prajwal Revanna. Kumaraswamy had then claimed that the media distorted facts and provided pictures that ridiculed his family.

He has also not spoken to local electronic media for over a month after vowing not to on 18 April.

Threatened to boycott media in November

In November last year, the chief minister declared that he would not address the local press as he felt that a certain section of media was running a “visible campaign” against him.

“They are twisting every single statement of mine and using it for their vested interests,” Kumaraswamy had then said. The chief minister was visibly upset with the regional media, claiming that they had quoted him out of context when he spoke about a woman farmer leader.

It was in reference to sugarcane farmers laying siege to the Vidhan Soudha in November, seeking their delayed payments. Kumaraswamy targeted one of the woman activists, Jayashree Gurannavar, claiming that she had said that he was unfit to run the state.

“How can I be held responsible for a company that has not paid the right price for sugarcane four years ago? I have no connection with this issue,” he told her. “Where were you sleeping four years ago?”

This statement caused a furore but Kumaraswamy claimed the regional media misinterpreted it and quoted him out of context solely to “instigate” sugarcane growers and farmers against him.

Had tried to ‘curb media’ earlier too

The chief minister’s threat to bring in legislation also isn’t the first time that he has been accused of attempting to curb the media.

In July last year, Kumaraswamy said that the government would allocate a “separate room” for journalists in the Vidhan Soudha, in which they could meet government officials or ministers with whom they had appointments.

The chief minister defended his decision, alleging that several middlemen were misusing their right to move freely and were indulging in corrupt practices. Critics, however, hit out at Kumaraswamy, saying it was a gag order to restrict media movement in the state assembly premises.

An official in the chief minister’s office defended Kumaraswamy’s latest remarks. “Satire should act as constructive criticism and not cause hurt to an individual,” the official said. “This is why the CM has been forced to take such a decision.”


Also readIn Karnataka, 16 journalists arrested in 1 year, most for blackmail & false propaganda


 

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Since he is not from BJP, award wapsi gang and the ‘left intellectuals’ buffoons are not crying democracy in danger.

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