Kolhapur: The print and electronic media journalists as well as office-bearers of Kolhapur Press Club (KPC) today staged a demonstration in front of the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj's statue in historic Dasara Chowk to protest against alleged use of abusive language by BJP MLA Pasha Patel against Maharashtra-1 TV channel journalist in Latur.
The journalists, led by KPC president Lumakant Nalvade, gathered at busy Dasara Chowk and shouted slogans against Mr Pasha, who is also president of Agriculture Price Commission, for his alleged rude behavior and use of abusive language against journalist Vishnu Burge, a representative of 'Maharashtra-1' TV channel, from Latur district of the Marathwada region during a press conference.
Mr Nalvade, while addressing the gathering, demanded that the government should immediately suspend Mr Pasha from the presidentship of APC for his impolite behaviour with a journalist.
He also demanded to implement the Journalists Security Act in the state.
The state government should take precaution that there is no repeat of such incident in future against any media person in the state, he added.
Besides Mr Nalvade, Tanaji Powar (Lokmat), KPC vice-president, Sheetal Dhanvade (Saamna), Shivaji Salokhe (UNI), Sandeep Khandekar (Sakal), Ms Shumbhaji Tavre (Snews), Pandurang Dalvi (Mahasatta), Vijay Kumbhar (B News channel), all KPC executive members and other city journalists including Sameer Mujawar (Navakal), Satej Aundhakar (Maharashtra-1) and Ranjeet Mazgaonkar (ABP Maja) participated in the agitation.
It may be recalled that while addressing a press conference in Latur last week, Mr Burge had asked Mr Patel questions about the state BJP government hiking fuel prices and farmers' issues, which angered Mr Patel who allegedly abused him for asking such questions in press conference.
Later Mr Burge filed a First Information Report against Mr Patel, who was arrested yesterday but released on bail immediately.
