UP DM lands in controversy after spat with journalist

Recently been in limelight for 'selfie incident'

The ‘outspoken’ woman District Magistrate of Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar B Chandrakala, who hogged the limelight recently after ordering arrest of a youth for allegedly trying to take selfie with her during a meeting, landed in another controversy after an alleged spat with a local journalist over coverage of the incident.

The DM, when queried by the journalist on the incident, reportedly shot back asking the latter if he would allow a stranger to take selfie with his ‘sister, wife or mother’.

The matter came to light when the journalist uploaded an audio clip purportedly containing his conversation with the official over telephone on the social networking sites. In the audio clip that went viral on the social media, a woman’s voice, purportedly of the DM, also lectures the journalist on morality and ethics.

The journalist, who works as a local reporter of a leading vernacular daily, alleged that the district administration in Bulandshahar had filed a police complaint against him for covering the ‘selfie incident’.

 Earlier in the week, a youth named Faraz Ahmed, who tried to get close to the DM to take selfie with her, was arrested on the DM’s orders. He was, however, released later on bail on after the official acceded to the request of his family to pardon him with a warning.

The DM was chairing an official meeting at the Collectorate in the district, when Faraz reached there and allegedly started clicking pictures. He reportedly tried to get close to her to take selfie.

Women’s organizations had defended the DM’s action and said her action was completely justified. “Besides being the district magistrate, she is a woman also. Trying to take selfie without permission can not be allowed”, said UP Women’s Commission Chairperson, Zarina Usmani.

The ‘Gulabi Gang’ (a women’s vigilante group) has also lent support to the official in the matter and said they would protest if any action was taken against her.

Chandrakala, who was known to be an upright and strict officer, had hogged the limelight even in the past after she publicly scolded officials for laxity in work.