New Delhi: Warning his followers to remain non-violent, social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday took a serious note on the attack on mediapersons by his supporters, saying he will stop his agitation if such incidents happen in future.
"Media and we have to work together to strengthen democracy. I request all not to misbehave to media from next time. If any such thing happens in future, I will stop my agitation, there and then," he said at Jantar Mantar.
"If the media coverage is not the right way, we should not blame them, should introspect and see if there is any problem in us that such reports are coming. It’s wrong to blame the media. I regret that some people have misbehaved with media," he added. Anna Hazare said he was saddened by what has happened. "I apologise on behalf of my supporters and team," he said.
However, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal blamed the editors of the media organisations for the controversy. While addressing the crowd at Jantar Mantar, he said, "The journalists are covering the protest but the editors of various news organisations are not reporting the coverage."
He added, "The reporters and crew members of various news agencies have become a part of our agitation. They are not to be blamed. I request supporters not to misbehave with them. It is the media owners who are not running the news."
"Shanti Bhushan had said that media owners have to decide who they are with. This provoked people here. I apologise for the misbehaviour. If we have differences of opinion with the media we have to sort it out through dialogue. But I have to ask the media owners whether they are with the country," he said.
Team Anna member Manish Sisodia also tendered apologies, saying that the media had been a big supporter of their fight against corruption since it started 2011. "Monday's incident is a lesson for us, I am ashamed. We have to remain non-violent. The government wants that supporters turn violent," he said.
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