Attacking the Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman, Justice Markandeya Katju, the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Mr S.K. Modi, today said the Centre should consider whether to continue with the PCI chief who is “shrouded in controversies,” as the issue of Justice Katju's remarks alleging undermining of press freedom under Mr Nitish Kumar rocked the State Assembly.
Shouting anti-government slogans demanding freedom of press in Bihar after the Speaker rejected an adjournment notice moved by an Opposition RJD member demanding discussion on Justice Katju's Friday remarks, MLAs of Lalu Prasad's party, supported by Congress and LJP colleagues, tried to disrupt the question hour and later walked out of the House.
The MLAs returned after some time but heated exchanges followed between the treasury and Opposition benches.
Soon after the Chief Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, entered the House, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Katju is in the habit of visiting States and making controversial remarks to hog the headlines... We don't approve it.”
“I think the Centre should consider whether it wants to continue a person holding such a high position who has been always involved in making controversial remarks and is rather shrouded in controversies,” Mr Modi said.
Opposition members stood up in protest while the Leader of Opposition, Mr Abdul Bari Siddiqui, slammed Mr Modi for his “unsavoury remarks.”
Panel formed
Meanwhile, Justice Katju today constituted a three-member fact-finding team to look into complaints of violation of the freedom of press in Bihar.
The team, headed by Mr Rajeev Ranjan Nag, will go into all aspects of the complaints of the violation of freedom of press, Justice Katju said in a statement here.
He said the team has been asked to make “thorough investigation” of the issues and report to him at the earliest.