Minister’s Misstep Forces CM’s Hand — A Rare Public Apology in Assam Politics

In a democracy, ministers must answer not just to the people, but also to the press that serves as the people's voice. However, Assam’s cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah appears to be struggling with that fundamental principle. His recent derogatory comment directed at a journalist from Pratidin Time—calling the reporter a “low-class person”—has triggered widespread condemnation across Assam’s journalistic fraternity and beyond.

This outburst wasn’t an isolated moment of frustration. It was triggered by a pointed question regarding his personal dairy farm—allegedly home to 60–70 Gir cows—which reportedly received government subsidies under a state-run scheme, raising serious concerns over conflict of interest and misuse of public funds. Instead of addressing the query, the minister chose to belittle the questioner, revealing a troubling pattern among some politicians—bold in corruption, but fragile in the face of questions.

The backlash was swift. Journalists, media organizations, and several civil society groups across Assam staged protests, demanding an unconditional apology from the minister. What followed was equally telling of the political dynamics within the ruling party. In a damage-control attempt, state minister Pijush Hazarika expressed regret over the incident, while Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia reportedly advised Jayanta Mallabaruah to issue a public apology.

Even Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was compelled to step in. Though he initially tried to differentiate his comments from those of Baruah’s, Sarma admitted that the minister's remarks were inappropriate. “I don’t know why Jayanta Mallabaruah said such things. His choice of words was not right. No one has the right to insult journalists. I will tell him to apologize. In fact, I apologize on his behalf,” said the Chief Minister during a media interaction.

While clarifying his own stance on the Hemkosh dictionary controversy—where questions were raised about who holds the right to promote Assam’s linguistic heritage—Sarma attempted to downplay the issue, stating that dictionaries like Hemkosh and Chandrakanta are public intellectual properties, much like Namghosha. He emphasized that anyone can promote them, whether it be Sanjiv Narayan, himself, or Jayanta Mallabaruah.

But the larger question looms: when ministers resort to personal insults instead of answering legitimate questions, what does that signal about their commitment to transparency and democratic values?

Jayanta Mallabaruah’s remarks are more than just a slip of the tongue. They are symptomatic of a growing intolerance towards scrutiny—a quality no democracy can afford to foster. While the Chief Minister’s apology is welcome, it is not a substitute for direct accountability.

If Baruah has the courage to run a ministry, he must also find the courage to face questions. That’s not just political maturity—it’s the bare minimum the public deserves.

Also Read: Assam CM Urges Jayanta Malla to Apologise Over Remark on Journalist