NAGPUR: Maharashtra’s controversial Medical Education Minister Vijay Kumar Gavit on Tuesday engaged in spat with journalists and press photographers by saying that he wanted all of them to be thrown out of a public grievances meeting.When the journalists and photographers hit hard at Gavit, he called off his proposed “Janata Darbar” following protests by local organizations and activists who insisted that the journalists should be allowed to attend the program.
Gavit has been in the news for all wrong reasons and his National Congress Party (NCP) leaders have and are having hard time defending him and pacifying the media.According to some of the journalists as soon as the meeting started at the Government Medical College (GMC), Gavit demanded that mediapersons should not remain inside the hall. Some organizations like Jan Akrrosh as well as social activists Umesh Choube and Gopal Belekar insisted that journalists be allowed to stay and cover the function, but Gavit was adamant that the media should leave the hall immediately.
Gavit then asked the journalists and press photographers to go out which led to protests and angry exchange of words between Gavit, activists and the mediapersons.An angry Gavit then left the hall without conducting the public grievances meeting and in a huff sat in the GMC Dean’s chamber. Then the protesters which included some Anna Hazare supporters, also reached there and started shouting slogans against Gavit. The minister then called the police which intervened and managed to disperse the crowd. – Arabnews
