CPM Tripura unit secretary and forrmer minister Jitendra Chowdhury was alleged to have threatened a senior journalist and editor of News Vanguard TV Channel Sebak Bhattacharjee oveer telephone, who also happens to be president of Tripura Electronic Media Society. As Bhattacharjee held a press conference with his media colleagues and the news hit hard resentment ran high among the media fraternity.
Bhattacharjee in a press meet alleged that Chowdhury called him today morning over telephone and asked him to start the telecast of two CPM backed TV channels which got closed. When Bhattacharjee pointed out that he was no way connected with the closure of the TV channels nor in any way could he take any decision in regards to restarting of these two TV channels Chowdhury was not in an accepting mood. In fact, Chowdhury told Bhattacharjee that it was Bhattacharjee and Agartala Press Club Secretary Pranab Sarkar who played the key role for the closure of the channels. Even as Bhattacharjee time and again tried to convince Chowdhury that this allegations were not true, the CPM secretary added that Bhattacharjee and Sarkar were also running the ICA department from behind. Bhattacharjee again denied such assumption. This time all of a sudden Chowdhury brought up the issue of former CM’s OSD Sanjay Mishra- who has reportedly left Tripura- and told Bhattacharjee that he would forcefully bring him to Agartala. This time Bhattacharjee asked Chowdhury as to why he brought up the Misra matter to him and what was his intention for this. CPM leader then made straight warning that ‘this was the last time that he would ask him (Bhattacharjee) to restart the two CPM backed TV channel.
“He was simply threatening me. The more I tried to convince him that I am no way involved in the closure of the TV channels and I am not at all in a position to take any decision in their reopening, Chowdhury kept on raising his voice in an intimidating tone”, Bhattacharjee said.
Some of the media fraternity alleged that the threat of the Chowdhury was not only uncalledfor from a senior politician and a matter of serious concern but it also showed the arrogance and brazen behaviours of the Communists –despite their present condition.
