Bhubaneswar: Delhi-based journalist and commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra , who landed in a soup over his alleged derogatory remarks on Sun Temple at Konark, has reportedly sought police protection to appear before the House Committee in the Odisha Assembly.
A six-member House Committee had summoned Abhijit on October 11 over his alleged breach of privilege and ‘derogatory remarks’.
While Opposition Narasingha Mishra is the chairperson of the Committee, Debi Prasad Mishra, KV Singhdeo, Pramila Mallick, Arun Sahu and Sanjay Dasburma are the other members. Expected to submit the report on the first day of the next session of the State Assembly.
Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat on 20 September had approved formation of a House Committee to probe the derogatory remarks by Abhijit Iyer Mitra on Odisha and Lord Jagannath. After the members cutting across the party lines vehemently protested and criticised the outrageous statement of Abhijit on Odisha, Lord Jagannath and Sun Temple.
Meanwhile the Odisha police is gearing up to arrest Iyer-Mitra when he appears before the police in Konark on October 10.In an official communication additional D.G of Prisons, Odisha has asked the Director General and Inspector General of Police (vide Note No. 17263, Dated 5/10/2018) for extra force to be sanctioned and has asked Superintendent of Police, Puri, within which jurisdication Konark falls, to make extra security arrangement in connection with the arrest and remand of Iyer-Mitra.
‘It is therefore, requested that 03 section Force may be sanctioned with an instruction to report their duties before the Superintendent of Police, Puri for their deployment in the premises ofthe jail to safeguard the security arrangement in connection with the arrest and remand of Mr. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra to the jail custody,” reads official letter.
Notably Iyer-Mitra was denied relief by the Supreme Court on Thursday. A three judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, said: “Your comments incite religious feelings. How are you entitled for bail?”
Responding to Mitra’s counsel Nikhil Mehra’s arguments that his life is in danger, CJI Gogoi said: “If you say you face threats, the safest place for you would be in jail. Your life will be secure. You have incited religious feelings.”
Iyer-Mitra insists what he said on the video, which has since gone viral, was meant to be just a satire
Soon after, in another tweet, he clarified that it was a joke.
