Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar/Kendrapara: Strongly condemning the behaviour meted out to OTV’s Kendrapara reporter by BJD MP Anubhav Mohanty, senior journalists today sought an apology from the Parliamentarian while terming his conduct as uncivil, boorish, unacceptable and highly unbecoming of a people's representative.

On Tuesday, the actor-turned-politician allegedly misbehaved with OTV journalist Manoj Swain who approached him for his comments after a project announcement event for Baladevjew Temple at Kendrapara Collectorate. A video captured in camera showed Anubhav misbehaving with him in full public glare. He shoved the OTV boom and dragged the journalist in front of the camera before mockingly clapping and commenting ‘you show news by distorting it’. Some other supporters of the MP were also seen applauding his disgraceful manners.

Today, Manoj Swain filed a complaint at Kendrapara Town Police station and sought police protection alleging that the MP and his supporters have issued death threats to him.

Reacting to such an unruly conduct towards the fourth pillar of democracy, senior journalist Sandeep Sahu wrote on social media, "The MP's behaviour with OTV reporter Manoj Swain was uncivil, boorish and highly unbecoming of a people's representative. Party chief and CM Naveen Patnaik, who has been an epitome of civilised, sober and gentlemanly conduct in public, must admonish the errant MP and send out a message loud and clear to all his party men that such uncouth behaviour will not be tolerated!"

Senior journalist Rajaram Satpathy has termed the MP's delinquency towards OTV journalist as 'Goondagiri', and called everyone to condemn the incident. "Anubhav's behaviour is unacceptable and he should apologize," said senior journalist Rabi Dash.

Slamming the BJD MP’s misbehaviour, President of Odisha Union Of Journalists, Prasanna Mohanty said, “It is an extremely condemnable act by a people’s representative. It is an act of disrespect towards journalists and the parliamentarian should apologise or else there will be protests.”

Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari said, "The visuals of misbehaviour are disturbing and such incivility by a people's representative doesn't bode well for democracy."

Senior Congress leader Sura Routray, on the other hand, said Anubhav needs to learn some manners. "After staying in power for so long, BJD has become arrogant. It is unfortunate that their MP doesn't know how to respect media," rued Cong MLA Tara Bahinipati.

Speaking on the incident, BJD leader Shipra Mallick stated, "I wasn't present at the spot. But irrespective of whether you are a journalist or a people's representative, no one should cross the limit."

Meanwhile in Kendrapara, District Journalists' Association along with civil society and other social organisations took to the streets condemning the incident. The agitators gheraoed the district collector office and later submitted a memorandum to Odisha CM through Kendrapara Collector demanding an apology and Anubhav's resignation from the post of MP. Even Kalahandi journalists' association took out a rally seeking action against the MP as per law.

It is not for the first time that MP Mohanty has misbehaved with a journalist. Earlier, he and his brother were accused of misbehaving with a lady journalist. This apart, Mohanty’s alleged spat with his neighbour Manjit Das, who happens to be a Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) leader, over parking of vehicles, had also caught him on the wrong foot.

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