PERNEM
Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar on Tuesday was accused of manhandling a journalist in Korgao, drawing strong condemnation from the media fraternity.
The incident is reported to have occurred when the MLA had reached late for a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a Sarvajanik Ganesh Visarjan site at Bhalkhazan-Korgao.
When Makbul Malgimani of Prudent Media, who was along with other journalists, questioned Arlekar about the reason for the delay, the MLA is alleged to have abused Malgimani.
Malgimani then began video recording the incident, when Arlekar allegedly manhandled the journalist and damaged his mobile phone.
Arlekar is alleged to have told the journalist that if he is getting delayed, he should not attend any of his programmes in future.
A video of the incident went viral, drawing strong condemnation from the media fraternity and public across the State.
Malgimani reported the matter to the Pernem Taluka Patrakar Committee and a delegation went to meet Arlekar at his office. Arlekar explained that his act was not deliberate and that his hand had accidentally hit Malgimani’s phone, which fell down.
Meanwhile, the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) has strongly condemned the manhandling of the journalist by the Pernem MLA and demanded that the journalist Makbul Malgimani must be paid for the damages that have been incurred.
“The cowardly act of the Pernem MLA is an attack on the freedom of press which cannot be tolerated. The Goa Union of Journalists seeks an apology from the Pernem MLA,” said the GUJ in a statement.
