Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, speaking at the Anil Kumar Memorial Journalism Award Ceremony hosted by the Nagpur Press Club, criticized “Supari Journalists” who misuse the Right to Information (RTI) Act for blackmail and personal gain. Gadkari commented that some journalists have even used unethical practices to afford luxury cars such as Mercedes.
During his speech, Gadkari recounted an incident from his tenure as a minister where a journalist used the RTI Act to blackmail officials in the Public Works Department (PWD). “One of my officers informed me about this blackmailing. I told him, ‘When that journalist comes to your office, lock the door and give him a good thrashing.’ And that’s exactly what happened. After that, the publication he worked for stopped circulating,” Gadkari remarked.
He also shared another incident from Marathwada, where an official was harassed by a journalist demanding advertisements. Gadkari revealed that the journalist even filed a police complaint accusing the official of misconduct. Expressing concern over such practices, Gadkari urged media organizations to exercise greater responsibility in issuing authority cards.
He concluded by noting that, even though there are “Supari journalists,” many journalists still follow ethical practices. He mentioned those who stayed true to their principles, even facing imprisonment during the Emergency but never compromising on journalistic integrity.