Kumaraswamy says he’ll never address media again

Bengaluru, Nov 23: Alleging that a section of the media is targeting him by twisting even his minor statements, Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday vowed not to address press conferences ever again.

“My comments about a woman farmer leader went viral and caused huge embarrassment to the government after Kannada TV news channels reported my quote out of context,” Kumaraswamy said. “It was done to instigate sugarcane growers and other farmers.”

Officials at the chief minister’s office said Kumaraswamy was hurt by “a few electronic media channels” for highlighting sugarcane farmers’ troubles, despite the CM’s best efforts. Kumaraswamy is said to have been disconcerted by his response to a woman farmer calling him “nalayak” (useless) being quoted out of context and portrayed as an “insult” to women.

“As a result he has decided to distance himself from the electronic media and convey all his statements to the print media by way of his office,” said a spokesperson from the chief minister’s office.

Farmer leader Jayashree Gurannavar said she is planning to file a complaint with the cybercrime police against JD(S) workers for defaming her image through social media.

Gurannavar has been the target of JD(S) activists after she called chief minister HD Kumaraswamy “nalayak” (useless). Comments are being posted branding Gurannavar an agent of the BJP, while others have raised questions over a picture in which she is holding an expensive iPhone.

Gurannavar told TOI she is not the agent of any party and the iPhone she used during the protest in the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi belonged to a journalist.

“I am already hurt by the CM’s statement,” she said. “Please don’t hurt me again. The CM should tell his party workers not to engage in such cheap tactics.”