The Karnataka Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution to summon the Editor of Marathi daily Tarun Bharat of Belgaum, Mr Kiran Dhondopant Thakur, on Monday and reprimand him for breach of privilege of two members.

After several members spoke on the privileges committee report which was tabled, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr S. Suresh Kumar, moved a resolution for the consideration of the House, which adopted it unanimously.

Besides summoning him for “maximum reprimand,” the Assembly decided to recommend to the Press Council of India to derecognise the daily, and also asked Mr Thakur to tender a public apology to Mr Abhay Patil and Mr S.B. Ghatage.

Mr Patil had alleged that the daily had been carrying “baseless” reports against him for the past three years, while Mr Ghatage had charged it with publishing a “baseless” report against him in the newspaper on November 30, 2010. Their privilege notice was referred to the privileges committee by the Speaker on May 16 this year.

The resolution echoed the recommendation made by the committee.

Members cutting across party lines who spoke on the privileges committee report demanded “exemplary” punishment to the Editor, as they also sought to highlight falling standards of journalism in sections of the media, including television news channels.

comment COMMENT NOW