TN guv apologises for patting woman journalist’s cheek

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday apologised to a senior woman journalist after he set off a firestorm by patting her cheek at a press conference at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday.

The apology came following a demand by journalists in the state after Lakshmi Subramanian tweeted a picture in which the governor is seen patting her cheek and expressed her shock at his behaviour.

In a letter to Subramanian, the governor wrote, “…I gave a pat on your cheek considering you to be like my granddaughter. It was done with affection and to express my appreciation for your performance as a journalist since I was also a member of that profession for about 40 years.” The journalist took to Twitter to announce that while she accepted the apology, she was not convinced about Purohit’s intention.

Purohit had patted the journalist’s cheek at a press conference at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday that he had convened after a woman professor of Virudhunagar, arrested for trying to lure college girl students into extending sexual favours for high varsity officials, claimed she was close to Purohit.

He dismissed all allegations and tried to deflect tough questions from woman journalists.

Towards the end of the conference, the governor patted the cheek of Subramanain, sparking outrage.