Kalmadi criticises Ajit Pawar, bats for media

Pune, Feb 6 (PTI) Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi, who hasbeen at the receiving end of the media scrutiny in the wake ofthe Commonwealth Games mismanagement, today hailed the role ofthe fourth estate.

Kalmadi, reacting to the attack on the media byMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar yesterday, said"freedom of the press is important. I did not talk of banningmedia even when I was targeted."

In an angry outburst, Pawar at a public meeting in Nandedhad talked of "banning" the media when a television channelcameraman was focusing on a farmer who intervened during hisspeech to ventilate a problem, accusing the media of givingnegative publicity.

Kalmadi and Ajit Pawar who is nephew of the NCP presidentand Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, have been atloggerheads in the tussle to gain control over the civicpolitics in Pune.

"One should not use such language. But what can you dowith the people who are in the habit of using it ?", Kalmaditold mediapersons here.