Bureaucrats don't have moral rights to misbehave with media: BJD MP

Sambalpur: The recent act of misbehaviour shown by Sports Secretary Vishal Dev towards OTV journalist has been condemned by one and all across the State. This time senior BJD leader and Sambalpur MP Nagendra Pradhan too expressed displeasure over such behaviour of the senior bureaucrat.

While talking to reporters in Sambalpur, Pradhan said bureaucrats and officers have no moral rights to behave in such a manner with journalists.

"I dislike the way the bureaucrat misbehaved with the journalist. Moreover, officers don't have any moral right to misbehave with media which is the fourth pillar of our democracy. I am utterly surprised over Dev's behaviour," said Pradhan.

The Sambalpur MP also condemned the attack on Utkal Bharat president Kharabela Swain during a public meeting at Kashipur in Rayagada yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Koraput Press Club has denounced the misbehaviour of Dev and stated the efforts to throttle the voice of media will not be successful.

"We demand that the bureaucrat should immediately apologise for his misbehaviour," said Bhabani Shankar Mishra, president of the Korapur Press Club.

It is pertinent to mention that the Sports Secretary lashed out at the OTV journalist inside his official chamber on November 21 when the latter had gone to seek the official’s comments on the Hockey World Cup.

Dev reportedly asked the reporter to go out of his room and stated that it was neither a park nor a public place and he was not invited.

Dev was reportedly aggrieved over OTV report which brought out the discrepancies and hassles faced by thousands of fans during online ticket sale of the opening ceremonies of the Hockey World Cup.