Thiruvananthapuram: Even as abuse of women and children are fuelling outrage in different parts of India, the state governor of Tamil Nadu has had to apologise for patting the cheek of a woman journalist of a Kerala-based media house.
Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit’s apology came through on Wednesday after the journalist for the Kerala-based Malayala Manorama group tweeted that it was “completely uncalled for to touch a stranger without her consent, especially a woman”.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening when the governor called a press conference after his name was linked to a college lecturer, who was charged with asking students to offer sexual favours to please some university officials.
The journalist was stunned by the governor’s act of patting her cheek, and she tweeted on Tuesday: “Washed my face several times. Still not able to get rid of it. So agitated and angered Mr Governor Banwarilal Purohit. It might be an act of appreciation by you and grandfatherly attitude. But to me you are wrong.”
The matter snowballed soon after when dozens of journalists wrote to the governor, demanding an apology for his conduct, and for an assurance that he will not violate the rights of journalists in future. They also voiced fears that other politicians may emulate his conduct.
Faced with criticism from different quarters, the governor offered an apology, stating, “I considered that question to be a good one. Therefore, as an act of appreciation for the question you posed, I gave a pat on your cheek considering you to be like my granddaughter.”
The journalist then responded, saying, “I accept your apology, even though I am not convinced about your contention that you did it to appreciate a question I asked.”
