Quota-shy Sibal tells scribe to leave press conf

New Dehi, May 19: Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal's news conference today turned into a fracas with journalists after he lost his cool and asked a television reporter to leave.

Mr Sibal, who was asked to comment on the proposed increase in the number of seats in educational institutions to provide for OBC quota, told the TV journalist he had no right to ask him a question not concerning his Ministry.

''You will not be invited to my press conference again and leave the room now,'' said Mr Sibal, inviting angry protests from fellow journalists.

Mr Sibal, who was criticised by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh for his reported anti-reservation comments last month, said he was upset because the reporter repeatedly questioned him though he was unwilling to reply.

''He asked me the question three times though I had told him in the first instance that I had no comment to make,'' he said.

The heated exchange came at the end of a news conference to release the guidelines for implementing the nationa map policy held at the Press Information Bureau building.

Mr Sibal had answered questions from TV reporters on the office of profit issue at the end of the news conference before losing his cool.

The Minister apologised to the journalist later bringing a happy end to the incident.

UNI

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