Overview

• Jayanta Malla Baruah issued a public apology on June 29, saying he regretted any hurt caused by referring to a reporter as “inferior people.”
• In his social media note, Baruah highlighted his father’s 22-year career as a local journalist and insisted he never intended to insult the press.
• The Media Association of Assam and the Gauhati Press Club said the apology met their demand but vowed to keep officials’ treatment of journalists under close watch.
• The controversy began on June 27 during a press conference on Gir cow subsidies linked to a dairy farm owned by the minister’s wife.
• Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier called the remarks inappropriate, apologised on behalf of his colleague and urged Baruah to make a personal apology.