CM flays electronic media for ‘reports against’ him

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday criticised visual media for purposefully projecting him in bad light.

“It is not possible for the television media to bring down the government by making stories that bring disrepute to me. I will continue to be chief minister until God’s blessings and people’s confidence are on me,” he said.

After launching various development works at Dudda village in Mandya taluk, he said, “The television channels are making reports against me every day. A farmer hacking my effigy with a sickle, during a protest at Ballari, is telecast repeatedly. Should I be hacked for waiving their loans? I had addressed the farmer woman as ‘Thayi’ (mother). But the media misinterpreted by speech. If I turn emotional, they make a story on that. How many days can you make such stories and harass me?”

A group of farmers raised slogans against the chief minister when he visited VC Farm for lunch.

Condemning their attitude, JD(S) leaders staged a counter-protest. They had heated exchange of words, which resulted in fisticuffs. However, police intervened and dispersed the crowd.

As a precautionary measure, farmer leaders were taken into custody and were released later.