The Agartala Press Club, the apex body of journalists in Tripura, has strongly condemned the recent remark made by newly appointed Panchayati Raj and Higher Education Minister Kishore Barman, who described the media as an “enemy.”
In an official statement, Roma Kanta De, Secretary of the Agartala Press Club, said such comments from a responsible minister are highly objectionable and unacceptable. He stressed that the media in Tripura has always carried out its duties in a fair, transparent, and objective manner without succumbing to pressure. “Such remarks are undesirable because the media in the state never bows to influence and consistently performs its responsibilities with integrity,” De added. He further demanded that the minister withdraw his statement against the press.
The controversy erupted yesterday when Barman, while addressing representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions at AD Nagar in Agartala, remarked: “We have been elected as MLAs, ministers, members of civic bodies, and Panchayats, but we must all remember that we have enemies. These enemies may come from within our own party, opposition parties, and even from the media. We must be on guard against them.”
The minister’s statement quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread backlash. Almost all major media outlets, including newspapers, television channels, and digital platforms, prominently reported the speech, terming it objectionable. Journalists’ organizations and unions across the state also condemned Barman’s comments.