By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Apparently bowing under peer pressure, the Mawlai MLA Founder Stone Cajee, who assaulted a photo-journalist — Walton Lyttan– within the premises of the State Assembly on Monday, admitted his mistake and apologized on the floor of the House for his unbecoming actions on Tuesday.
The apology came from the MLA after the opposition NCP raised the issue and demanded stringent action against the legislator for his actions.
While giving his version of the incident, the ruling Congress legislator said, “I am sorry for what has happened and it will not be repeated in the future.”
Cajee expressed regret over the “very unfortunate incident”, while claiming that he too was a “victim of the media”, of which he had always been a “good friend”.
However, Cajee’s apology was not sincere as can be gauged from the fact that he cast aspersions on the photo-journalist Walton Lytan. Cajee prevaricated on the subject and tried to justify his rowdy behaviour. This has not been taken too kindly by the media fraternity.
After the intervention of Speaker Charles Pyngrope and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who wanted to amicably resolve the matter with the Shillong Press Club, Cajee tendered his apology. This would have been accepted by members of the Shillong Press Club but for Cajee’s attempts to justify his actions and casting aspersions on Walton Lyttan .
After narrating his version, he stated that Walton Lyttan was not a reporter but a mere photographer who sells pictures to MLAs.
However, in his counter FIR, Cajee wrongly named the victim as Warton Jyrwa and according to the police website which posts FIRs on a daily basis, the FIR by Cajee states that Jyrwa is a press reporter. Actually Lyttan (not Jyrwa) is a senior photo journalist with 21 years of experience and accredited with the Government of Meghalaya bearing number MIPR – 74.
Secondly, Cajee alleged that the victim “used filthy language” while speaking to him and that was following him around the House when in fact, Cajee met the victim who was in conversation with three other legislators just outside the ruling members’ room.
What transpired between the two awaits ascertaining as the matter is under investigation by police.
Lytan was assaulted by the legislator after he clicked a picture of Cajee who was literally caught napping when the Assembly session was going on.
The Speaker told the House that the Assembly has no jurisdiction and would not interfere into the FIRs which have been filed by both the persons involved in the incident.
He also said that he would allow police to go ahead with their investigations on FIRs filed by the aggrieved parties.
Earlier, Opposition leader James Sangma said the sanctity of the House has been violated with the legislator assaulting the photo-journalist.
“Some stringent action should be taken against the legislator,” he added.
He was also supported by the Opposition leader Conrad K Sangma who said that this kind of incident has never happened in the State Assembly.
“I don’t see why an elected representative has to behave in this manner when a photo-journalist is doing his job”, he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP state unit has also condemned the incident.
“If the journalist has done any thing wrong a privilege motion could be moved against him but such act of a senior Congress man has earned not only shame for the Congress but for the entire State,” BJP General Secretary Dipayan Chakraborty said.