Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade today sought a clarification from state Housing Minister Prakash Mehta after the opposition flayed the minister for his alleged arrogant behaviour with a TV journalist.
Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who raised the issue in the Lower House, said the government should apologise for Mehta's alleged rude behaviour with the journalist.
There should be a code of conduct for ministers, he said, condemning Mehta's behaviour in Mahad yesterday.
The Speaker asked Mehta to give a clarification over the allegations.
The minister, who was in Mahad to review rescue work after the bridge collapse, was asked by a Marathi TV channel reporter about the status of those missing in the tragedy.
Two state transport buses and some four-wheelers were washed away in the river when the bridge collapsed near Mahad in Raigad district on Tuesday night.
The Minister had, reportedly, also clicked a selfie at the sight of the incident which he visited 40 hours after the collapse.
When the TV reporter asked why state administration was treating the relatives of the victims in such a callous manner, the minister objected to the "pointless" question.
He alleged that the reporters were raising non-issues for the sake of TRPs and that he will solve his department's problems on his own. His supporters later also allegedly heckled the TV reporter.
(REOPENS BES8)
Meanwhile, representatives of major journalists' associations including Mumbai Press Club and TV Journalists' Association met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today for seeking justice in the incident that involved Housing minister Prakash Mehta.
"The delegation has submitted a letter to the CM, asking him to reign in his Cabinet colleague, who had misbehaved with a TV journalist and also instigated his supporters to manhandle the reporter, who was performing his official duty of covering the Mahad bridge collapse on Thursday (August 4)," Club secretary Dharmendra Jore said.
"CM Fadnavis told the delegation that the incident was unfortunate and uncalled for. While offering his heartfelt regrets to the delegation, he said he would not justify his minister's act. He also assured us that such incidents will not be repeated in future. Mehta has also tendered an unconditional apology," he said.
