Guwahati, June 29 -- Assam Public Health Engineering and Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Sunday tendered a public apology after facing intense backlash for remarks made toward a journalist during a press conference on June 27.

Mallabaruah referred to a journalist as "tolor srenir manuh", a phrase loosely translating to "a person of lower rank." The video of the comment quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from journalist associations, civil society groups, and media professionals across Assam.

The Gauhati Press Club (GPC) led the condemnation, calling the minister's language "bizarre and unconstitutional." In a strongly worded statement, the GPC demanded accountability and called for a unified protest by j...