Politicians demand unconditional apology from Vadra for attacking journalist

Condemning Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra's attack on a journalist on Saturday, the General Secretary of the Broadcast Editors' Association, N.K Singh, demanded an unconditional apology from him.

"Robert Vadra should tender an unconditional apology. Every media person holds a logo. So, even if it was a private journalist, Robert Vadra should have behaved decently. A day earlier, the CAG had given a report on Vadra, and therefore, it was well within rights of media to ask questions," said Singh in his response to an angry Vadra roughly pushing the camera mic of the ANI reporter away when a question was posed to him about his alleged controversial land deals in Haryana.

"Be it a media person or a common man, questions should have been answered. The Congress should take this seriously, because although he's not a member, it reflects badly on the party. This shows he doesn't believe in a democratic process. It is the responsibility of the media to ask questions," he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya said this kind of a behavior is not tolerable in a democracy.

"BJP doesn't believe in vindictive politics, and doesn't tolerate corruption. Today (Saturday), a journalist, has asked him questions with the power of democracy, obviously his ego was hurt, but not Robert Vadra, nor the Congress have any answers to this misuse of power," said Somaiya.

Denouncing Vadra's action, another BJP leader, V B Pathak, said that pushing a journalist's mic away, when asked a question about the land deal scam doesn't reflect well of the party."

He further added that the Congress Party is answerable for Vadra's behavior.

Senior journalist Shahid Siddiqui demanded an apology from Vadra to the media and to the nation for his unruly behavior.

"It is unfortunate. I totally condemn it,"said Siddiqui.

"He (Vadra) cannot fly anymore, his wings have been cut. He should realize his in-laws are no more in power. Vadra should pay for this," he added.

Yesterday, Vadra lost his temper and pushed the ANI reporter's mic away, when asked a question about the land deal scam. "Are you serious? Are you serious? Are you nuts? What is wrong with you," Vadra kept asking repeatedly.

Vadra and his security guards also threatened the reporter and asked him to turn off his camera at a private event held at the Ashoka Hotel.