Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) Amid escalating tensions over controversial remarks and threats directed at media persons by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and the party’s chief leader Eknath Shinde took a firm stance on Thursday, asserting that any insult to journalists is absolutely unacceptable.

He reprimanded Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil and explicitly advised him to tender an unconditional apology to the media community.

The development follows severe backlash over an incident where Sanjay Dina Patil allegedly used abusive language and issued threats to journalists on camera when questioned by reporters about shifting his allegiance to the Shiv Sena.

While being questioned by reporters regarding his recent political move and ongoing rivalry with the Uddhav Thackeray faction, Sanjay Dina Patil lost his temper. The interaction escalated rapidly, with Patil using explicit, foul language and issuing direct physical threats to reporters in front of police personnel.

Patil was caught on camera telling journalists, “If you come back to me again, I will have you beaten up.”

He added, “Write whatever you want, record it, go and complain to the Commissioner. I am saying this right in front of the police.”

Hours after protests from various associations of journalists and Opposition parties, Shinde, who was accompanied by transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, held a Press conference stating that disrespect to journalists won’t be accepted.

Expressing sharp indignation, Shinde also used the platform to vent his anger against certain political leaders who routinely use foul and aggressive language in public discourse.

He criticised the rising daily trend of politicians making provocative remarks before the media, pointing to recurrent threats like “break them,” or “barge into their homes and assault them.”

While Shinde refrained from naming any specific leader, his remarks were widely perceived as a veiled attack on Opposition leaders, particularly UBT faction spokesperson Sanjay Raut, who has been aggressively targeting the defecting MPs.

He noted that such language deeply erodes Maharashtra’s political culture and serves as a direct insult to the dignity of democracy and the media.

Clarifying his interaction with the controversial MP, Shinde stated, “I reviewed the details of the statement made by Sanjay Dina Patil and held a discussion with him. He clarified that he had absolutely no intention of using derogatory words or hurting the sentiments of journalists, with whom he has always shared cordial relations.”

Shinde claimed that Patil was reacting out of accumulated frustration regarding the toxic rhetoric directed at him.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, Patil expressed deep anguish during their discussion, stating that he and his family had been subjected to constant, highly personal insults and character assassination by Opposition elements since 2022.

“The anger built up from witnessing such low-tier, everyday abuse before the cameras inadvertently spilled over. However, he has assured me that he harbours no ill will or hatred toward media professionals,” he explained, adding that he cautioned Patil to avoid such public outbursts in the future.

Reaffirming his instructions to the MP, Shinde stated, “I told him clearly that if any inappropriate words escaped his mouth, he must sincerely express his regrets to the media.” Shinde concluded by noting that Patil agreed to issue a heartfelt apology to journalists.

As journalists’ associations across Maharashtra continue to register strong protests against the high-handed behaviour of the lawmaker, Shinde’s timely intervention seeks to douse the fire, urging all political actors to maintain restraint, civility, and respect for the fourth estate.

–IANS

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