Shillong(Meghalaya), Jan 7: Meghalaya home minister, James K Sangma on Monday got into a heated argument with a senior journalist in front of his office chamber in the state secretariat here and pushed the scribe asking, “What the hell are you doing? Why are you blocking my way like that?”
This happened at around 5.30 pm after eight journalists sought an appointment with Sangma in an attempt to ask him questions on a few issues.
This appointment was denied by Sangma in spite of which the journalists waited for him outside his office chamber in the main secretariat.
When Sangma emerged, the journalists extended their New Years greeting to him which Sangma reciprocated but when one of the journalists tried to shake his hand, Sangma shoved him aside and accused the journalist of attempting to block his way.
The home minister also pushed the senior journalist, saying “What the hell are you doing? Why are you blocking my way like that?”
On hearing this, the senior journalist clarified that nobody was blocking the Minister’s way. Miffed at being shoved aside, he also said, “Who the hell you think of yourself? Who are you?”
While Sangma was already descending the steps to exit the building, he immediately turned around on hearing this, walked back up the steps to the journalist and said, “What is your problem?”
The journalist clarified that he did not mean anything, and there was no intention to block the Home Minister’s way.
“I only want to ask you some questions, but I am not blocking your way. If I blocked you, you have your guards,” the senior journalist said.
In an attempt to quell the situation, a personal assistant of the home minister stood in between the home minister and the journalists while security personnel stood guarding him.
However the home minister tried to move towards the journalist and repeatedly asked, “What is your problem?
Later the home minister left the scene along with his personal assistant and security guards.
It may be noted that this had happed after the journalists had waited nearly two hours to meet Sangma who is also in-charge of power and district council affairs.
By special arrangement with Highland Post
