Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, January 2: A reporter with the Hindi daily Jansatta, Manobhav Tripathi, was threatened, allegedly sent by KDMC corporator Pundalik Mhatre, on Friday. Mhatre reportedly took offence to Tripathi’s report on December 30 regarding the selection of one Ravi Patil as the new Congress party leader at the KDMC. The report had quoted unnamed sources who blamed Mhatre for the steady decline of the Congress in the KDMC. Mhatre, who has been Congress leader since 1995, “had managed to stay put with the help of muscle power”, said the report.
Mhatre asked Tripathi to print a clarification stating that the report was incorrect. The reporter asked him to give him in writing points on which he disagreed. Mhatre allegedly retorted, “in which case we will have to teach you a lesson”. On Friday, five persons approached Tripathi and told him “to do as he was expected to or they would have to take some extreme steps”.
