Mangalore: High-handedness? Tourism Minister Snubs Waiting Media

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Sep 17: Politicians are notorious for making people wait. Few programmes with politicians as chief guests start on time, and on Monday September 17 mediapersons of the city not only had a taste of the tourism minister's lack of time sense, but also his indifference.

Karnataka tourism minister B S Anand Singh was scheduled to visit Tannir Bavi here on Monday September afternoon, and as per arrangements, as many as 20 mediapersons from the city arrived at the spot on time. The minister was supposed to visit the proposed golf court that in Bengre.

The mediapersons reached Bengre at around 3 pm, but there was no sign of the minister. Surprisingly, none of the officials, or even the police had any clue about the minister's visit or his iterinary.

After a long, trying wait, legislative assembly deputy speaker Yogish Bhat informed on phone that Anand Singh would be visiting NMPT guest house in Tannir Bavi first.

The media then left for NMPT guest house, where Yogish Bhat and deputy commissioner Dr Channappa Gowda had already reached. The minister was yet to arrive, and everyone including the media waited for him.

As soon as siren of the minister's car was heard, the mediapersons were up on their toes and cameras began to roll. The minister was welcomed by Yogish Bhat and the DC and all of them had a closed-door meeting while the media waited outside.

After another round of waiting that lasted 45 minutes, the minister along with the DC and Yogish Bhat emerged out of the room. The media expected to be briefed about projects, plans and other details, but it was not to be.

When Anand Singh did not address the media, the reporters followed him with an intention to ask a few questions. They requested him to spare them a few minutes, even as Yogish Bhat and the DC sat inside the minister's car.

As he lowered the car window, mediapersons asked him if he was aware that they had waited for more than two hours to be briefed. He brushed aside the question saying that he had informed a press person that he would address the media on spot, but had no time.

He moreover said that he could not identify the press person he had informed, as he was not familiar with any of the local mediapersons. With that, he left the spot without any more courtesy.

All in all, it was a wasted effort for the mediapersons, who were not only made to wait in vain but also snubbed.