Former chairman of the Legislative Council and Congress leader B K Chandrasekhar condemned the threat issued by JD(S)-Congress coalition Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, for issuing a threat to journalists, in Mandya district, last week.
During a media conference here on Monday, Chandrasekhar was replying to a query on the issue. Earlier, Kumaraswamy had issued a provocative statement against media persons, during his campaign in favour of his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy at KRS, Srirangapatna taluk, last week. Kumaraswamy had said, “Don’t blame me, if our party workers react strongly for showing the party and its leaders in bad light.”
Members of the Karnataka State Journalists Union, Mandya district unit, have lodged a complaint with the District Election Commission against Kumaraswamy in this connection. According to the complaint, JD(S) workers tried to attack media persons on the spot and also near outdoor broadcasting (OB) vans of television channels, soon after Kumaraswamy issued the statement. They abused media persons immediately. The police intervened and brought the situation under control. The union members have also sought protection as the possibilities of an attack on media persons, during the election, is more.
Chandrasekhar said, “Such statements by any person of any party and any government is condemned. Despite the alliance of the Congress with the JD(S), I do not endorse such behaviour.”