The Nagpur Union of Working Journalists (NUWJ), Maharashtra Union of Working Journalists and Press Club Nagpur strongly deprecates the deplorable attempt by some vested interests to malign the spotlessly clean image of Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Hon?ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, by hurling baseless, malicious, mischievous and slanderous allegations.

We in Nagpur media, know Shri Purohit, popularly known as ?Babuji, for last several decades as man of principles and impeccable integrity. As diligent public representative, as Managing Editor of The Hitavada (the oldest and largest circulated English daily of Central India since last one century), as able administrator of educational institutions and an affable public personality, Shri Purohit is known for spartan personal life and above-board public life. He is a fatherly figure for most media persons in Central India and he has always stood against corruption, injustice and has openly supported media persons in their fight against any attempt to muzzle their voice of dissent.

We were taken aback by reprehensible attempt to portray him in poor light by completely twisting the narrative and we strongly condemn such an attempt in no uncertain terms. The manner, in which sections of media tried to project the episode at Raj Bhavan, was utterly poor in taste and smacks of sinister design to indulge in a smear campaign against a high constitutional functionary with clean image throughout his public life.

It will not be out of place to state that the newspaper which he led – The Hitavada – employs a large number of women journalists – perhaps largest number of women journalists anywhere in Central India and under his towering personality, all the institutions run by him are considered as law-abiding, rule enforcing and safest possible places for employment.

Against this background, with a sense of pain and anguish, we once again unequivocally condemn the sinister attempt by some sections with an oblique motive to malign the fair image of Shri Purohit.

Here’s the letter below: