India’s son insulted in US: PM jabs Congress on India Today reporter assault

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of “indulging in brutality” after an India Today journalist said he was assaulted by Rahul Gandhi’s team in the United States. Addressing a gathering in poll-bound Kashmir’s Doda, PM Modi also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ pitch to question the cruelty meted out to the journalist in the US.
“They (Congress) claim to be running Mohabbat ki dukaan. But a journalist of our country was subjected to cruelty in the USA by Congress. A son of India was insulted in the USA. Those who claim to be champions of freedom of speech indulged in brutality,” Modi, who became the first Prime Minister to visit Doda in 42 years, said.
PM Modi said the manner in which the journalist was treated lowered India’s prestige on American soil. He also said the word “Constitution” does not suit the Congress, attempting to turn the tables on the party which has repeatedly accused the BJP of subverting the Constitution.
“The media is an important pillar of democracy…the way a journalist was treated by locking him in a room, is this a matter that highlights the dignity of democracy? Are you increasing the prestige of India by beating up an Indian journalist on American soil? The word Constitution does not suit your mouth,” the Prime Minister further said.
Rohit Sharma, the India Today correspondent, said that he was manhandled by Congress workers in Dallas when he was conducting an interview with Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda. The incident happened just before Rahul Gandhi landed in the US for a three-day visit.
Sharma said his question to Pitroda about Hindus being targeted and killed in Bangladesh was objected to by a member of Gandhi’s team as “controversial”. “Band karo! Band karo! Stop it! Stop the interview!” Sharma quoted the member as saying.
The next 30 minutes were a harrowing experience for Sharma. The journalist said 15 people surrounded him and demanded that the interview be deleted. However, the journalist dug his heels in and explained that the question was not controversial.
However, the Congress workers took his phone and deleted it from the photos library. The workers were well aware that the clip could still be accessed in the recently deleted folder, which required the journalist’s face ID.
Sharma said the Congress workers then took the phone near his face and unlocked it without his consent. The entire interview was then deleted.
Reacting to the incident, Pitroda said he does not appreciate this kind of treatment and assured that he would look into the matter.
“I will look into it. I don’t approve of anybody being mishandled. I do not approve of, you know, not giving respect to journalists. I do not approve of these things,” Pitroda said during an interview with India Today TV.
The Indian Overseas Congress chief asserted that he always treated journalists with respect and dignity and stood for a “free press”.
“I am for free press. You know me. I am for respect and dignity. All I can tell you is I will find out (what happened),” Pitroda further said.