Mumbai: Journalist bodies demand action against Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil

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Eleven journalist bodies from Mumbai on Friday met Governor Ramesh Bais demanding action against Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil under the state's journalist protection law, a day after a scribe from Jalgaon district was attacked by a group of persons, reported news agency PTI.

They accused Patil of verbally abusing the journalist, Sandeep Mahajan.

A statement issued by the journalist bodies said the governor assured their delegation that he would look into the matter, reported PTI.

They also demanded Mahajan, who is from a local daily at Pachora in Jalgaon district, be given police protection, reported PTI.

Mahajan had reported about a case of rape and murder of a minor girl in Pachora area and criticised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the incident.

An audio clip recently went viral on social media wherein Pachora legislator Patil was purportedly heard abusing the journalist.

Meanwhile, Voice of Media, an association of journalists from the Marathwada region, sent a memorandum to CM Shinde demanding action against Patil and those behind the attack under the Maharashtra Mediapersons and Media Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act.

A ournalist with a regional daily was attacked by a group of persons in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, police said on Thursday.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut condemned the attack and alleged that "goons" of local Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil were behind it.

However, Patil denied the charge and said he had no connection with the incident, which took place in Pachora area of Jalgaon on Wednesday afternoon.

The journalist, Sandeep Mahajan, had reported about a case of rape and murder of a minor girl in Pachora area and criticised Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the incident.

An audio clip recently went viral on social media wherein Pachora legislator Patil was purportedly heard abusing the journalist.

Talking to PTI, Patil said, "I had verbally abused him (Mahajan) as there were strong reasons for it. However, I have no connection with the attack that has taken place. I was in Mumbai when the incident occurred. I do not support this attack."

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Supriya Sule also condemned the incident and demanded that the state government take action against the attackers.

Senior state Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar in a social media post said, "I condemn the cowardly attack on journalist Sandeep Mahajan by the goons of Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil. People will show such an arrogant MLA and his government their place soon."

It is now clear what happens to the common man in a state where the voice of journalists is suppressed and they are beaten up, he said.

The journalist had raised questions and sought justice for an eight-year girl who was raped and murdered, the Congress leader said, noting the girl was from Patil's constituency.

Mahajan's reporting of the incident irked Patil and the latter abused him in filthy language, he claimed.

"Will the chief minister and home minister show courage to take action against Patil?" the Congress leader asked.

NCP working president and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule also condemned the attack on Mahajan.

"It is anti-democratic and a very serious matter, where goons are sent to beat up a journalist for asking difficult questions to the chief minister of the state. It is the right of the journalists to ask questions, and it is unfortunate if such right is taken away from them," she said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"How can the state's home minister sit quietly and watch such attacks. He should take immediate action against the goons and people backing them," she demanded.

(With inputs from PTI)