April 18, 2018
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday tendered an apology to lady journalist, whom he patted on the cheek at the end of a press conference in Chennai. The incident that took place on Tuesday infuriated the media community that went on a warpath even as opposition DMK went for the jugular.
The Governor sent a letter to the journalist Lakshmi Subramanian in which he said “I wish to express my regret and my apologies to assuage your sentiments that have been hurt. I suppose you will respond through a mail of acknowledgement”.
The journalist accepted receipt of the apology letter. Confirming this Governor Purohit said “you had asked a question when we had got up and were proceeding to leave after the close of the Press Conference.I considered that question to be a good one. Therefore, as an act of appreciation for the question that you had posed, I gave a pat on your cheek considering you to be like my granddaughter.”
ALSO WATCH : These skimming devices in ATMs can empty your bank account
The Governor maintained that he had patted her on her cheek with affection and to express his appreciation of her performance as a journalist.
“I do understand from your mail that you are feeling hurt about the incident. I wish to express my regret and my apologies to assuage your sentiments that have been hurt. I suppose you will respond through a mail of acknowledgement,” Purohit said in his letter.
The journalist said though she accepted the apology she was not convinced of his explanation.
The incident sparked off a furore with journalists and opposition politicians condemned the Governor and sought apology from him. The media persons also submitted a written memorandum seeking his apology on Wednesday.
The Governor met the media to deny allegations linking him to a sex scandal at a leading university in the state.