Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Nov 25: Former union minister and Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Tuesday November 25 criticized his own party colleague and minister for energy D K Shivakumar (DKS) for reportedly issuing orders to ban two news channels of a media house across the state.
As per reports, DKS asked cable operators to blackout TV9 and News9 channels in the entire state for 'anti-government' activities following a meeting with Karnataka State Cable Operators Association (KSCOA). The KSCOA, however, claimed that there was no pressure from the government.
Addressing a press meet here, Poojary slammed DKS' order and said, "D K Shivakumar is curbing the freedom of the press. Media is an important part of the democracy.
"The Indian Constitution clearly states the freedom of the press in Article 19 (1) (A). D K Shivakumar needs to read it," he added.
"While taking oath as minister you (DKS) promised to respect and abide by the Constitution. Now you have done a mistake. Every human being commits mistake, but greatness lies in accepting them. Even Mahatma Gandhi committed mistakes and accepted them, so did Indira Gandhi after the Emergency," he said.
Addressing DKS further, he said, "If you admit your mistake, will anyone behead you? The chief minister is doing good work in the state, do not embarass him and the party with such actions. The Congress party has given you power.
"If this issue is raised in the Parliament it will be a matter of shame to Sonia Gandhi," he added.
"You (DKS) are trying to spoil the image of the party. Correct your mistakes, I am saying this as your well-wisher," he said.
"The CM should intervene in this matter. Freedom of press keeps democracy alive. Do you want to murder democracy?" he questioned DKS.
On the controversy surrounding minister Vinay Kumar Sorake's remark on MP Shobha Karandlaje on 'Kiss of Love' campaign, he said, "The BJP is giving unnecessary publicity to the comment. Sorake has not said anything bad. He as well as we respect women, we worship women. BJP is unnecessarily politicizing the issue."
Commenting on the RTI filed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife regarding her security and other facilities, "Modi should call his wife back home. If he has even a bit of compassion, he should ask her to come home. She is a teacher. She may not be as beautiful as Modi would like her to be, but she is his wife.
"You (Modi) became PM because of your wife's prayers. Why can't you correct your mistakes?" Poojary said.