Mumbai: Journalists working in Mira Bhayandar on Monday staged a dharna in front of Bhayandar police station demanding action against BJP MLA Narendra Mehta for allegedly threatening a journalist from Mira Road.
At about 10.30 p.m. on February 24, supporters of Mr. Mehta had staged a protest and issued threats before the house of the journalist, Vasant Mane, for publishing a cartoon featuring Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
According to the BJP, the cartoon showed the CM in a poor light.
“Towards the evening they asked me to give my statement,” said Mr. Mane. While the police asked him to wait for the recording of statement and taking his complaint, no action was taken, he claimed. “Till now, (at the time of going to press), no FIR has been filed.”
“Mr. Mehta should realize that we (journalists) often create caricatures of politicians.” According to Mr. Mane, who is also the president of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation Journalists Association, Mr. Mehta wants to frighten the journalists and get into the good book of Mr. Fadnavis.
The journalists have decided to continue the agitation on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, repeated calls to the Bhayandar senior police inspector’s office or any of the senior cops yielded no results.
