After receiving wide speared criticism or his ‘crushing media’ remarks, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today clarified his statement.
“My comments were on social media. It was with regards to the issue related to the Northeast students who were being targeted in Hyderabad and Karnataka. It was not on journalists. It’s totally wrong, they are maligning me. I have never said such things in my forty years as an MP. Why will I say it now? The media is my friend,” he said.
Earlier on Monday Shinde had accused a section of the electronic media of maligning Congress party and warned they would be “crushed” if it continues.
“What is happening in the electronic media largely I am aware of it. In the last four months there have been efforts by the media to provoke us (Congress). We will crush such elements in the electronic media, which are indulging in false propaganda. I have the intelligence department under me. I know who is doing such things.” he said.
This has become a trend. Time to time the political leaders come with threats of ‘blocking’ or ‘crushing’ media – be it electronic or social network – if the reports are not ‘likeable’ to them. Whenever the leaders found the media is not reporting according to their convenience, they started targeting media. Already Editor’s Guild of India has objected to the Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations that the media is dishonest and biased. Ex-Army Chief General VK Singh has also recently hit out at media. So, now the home minister of the country warns to ‘crush’ if the reports are not aligning with Congress. It’s very unfortunate indeed!
Tags: AAP Arvind Kejriwal Congress crushing media sushil kumar shinde
