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All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday, 26 December verbally abused a journalist who questioned him on next year's general elections and threatened to break his head.
The incident happened when Ajmal was talking to reporters after a function, where he felicitated the panchayat elections winners of South Salmara district in Assam.
Journalist Kabir Modal, who was forced to apologise by Ajmal’s supporters, later filed a complaint with the police against the Lok Sabha lawmaker.
Abuses Hurled After the Alliance Question
Mondal questioned Ajmal about AIUDF’s alliance plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He refused a direct reply and said, “We are with Mahagathbandhan (Opposition alliance) in Delhi.”
The journalist persisted and asked whether the AIUDF would change its position after the polls depending on which party won.
To this, Ajmal lost his temper and said, “How many crore will you give? (abuse)... Is it journalism? People like you are demeaning journalism. This man is against us from earlier on.”
‘Go File a Case Against Me, I Have My Men in Court’
“He is asking for how much money will I be sold to BJP? His father will be sold. Go from here or else I will break your head. Go and file a case against me...(abuse)... I have my men in court... you will be finished. You have done this earlier also,” the leader said.
Ajmal rained more abuses, snatched the mic of another journalist and tried to hit the scribe who had asked the question.
Journalist Forced to Apologise
After the incident, Kabir was asked to apologise by Ajmal’s supporters and was only let go after he apologised to him.
“They forced me to apologise, they only let me go after I did.”Kabir Mondal, Journalist
Mondal then bowed his head in front of Ajmal and apologised, after which the AIUDF leader was seen touching his head, PTI reported.
‘Incident Not Intentional, Reporter Asked Silly Questions Everytime,’ Tweets Ajmal
Following the incident, the AIUDF chief tweeted that the incident was ‘not intentional’ and that the reporter used to ask ‘silly questions.’
He later put out an apology tweet saying that he has always respected media persons.
‘Not the First Attempt at Intimidation’
In an interview with CNN News18, Mondal said that this is not the first incident of Ajmal’s inappropriate behaviour with him.
The journalist also said that, earlier after one of his stories, he received threats and provocations from Ajmal’s party which forced him to flee for three months.
“After a story I did, they motivated public to set my house on fire and few people told me to flee for a while given the circumstances.”Kabir Mondal to CNN News18
‘Make the News Stop,’ AIUDF Secretary Allegedly Tells Journalist
He also said he received a call from AIUDF’s secretary asking to stop the news from going out, to which Mondal said he replied that he cannot stop things from spreading on social media.
The TV journalist after the incident had said, “People gathered there and I was about to be thrashed. I was forced to apologise and I did it to save my life. I have already filed an FIR.”
(With inputs from PTI and CNN News18.)
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