Tags:
Journalism of Courage
This was another case where Sonia had to undo the damage done by a minister. At the AICC session in Delhi, around 40 journalists, all with valid passes, were denied entry by Delhi Police and SPG for no real reason. The hacks moved from one gate to another for four hours but the police refused them entry even when AICC media secretary Tom Vadakkan intervened. At this juncture Home Minister Shivraj Patil arrived on the scene and the journalists pleaded with him to do something. Waving his hand in dismissal, the home minister8212;who also controls the Delhi Police8212;walked away. When the gate opened to allow the home minister through, a bunch of AICC delegates8212;who too were refused entry8212;pushed their way inside. In an effort to close the passage, the police had to resort to mild use of force. In the process, a woman journalist was shoved around. That evening, Sonia called up the journalist to express regret8212;sadly, the home minister did not think it worth his while to do so.
