TNR Exclusive: Claims media showed only one part of video clip, readies to file FIR for selective reporting
MANDI, December 16 (Munish Sood)
In the middle of the controversy surrounding the alleged serving of “jungle murga” (grey junglefowl) for dinner during Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s visit to Tikkar village of Chopal’s Kupvi in Shimla district, The Newz Radar managed to speak to Hari Singh Pachanaik, the man in whose house the controversy erupted.
In an interview with Hari Singh on phone, The Newz Radar sought to know whether the “jungle murga” was actually served and what was the row all about. The phone interview is available on The Newz Radar’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Question: Please introduce yourself.
Answer: My name is Hari Singh Pachanaik. I hail from Tikkar village in Chopal constituency of Shimla district and my panchayat is Kulag.
Question: Are you involved in politics?
Answer: Yes, I am affiliated with the Congress. I have served as a zila parishad member, panchayat pradhan and a member of the Pradesh Congress Committee.
Question: Who informed you about the Chief Minister’s visit?
Answer: I was informed by the local administration. After inspecting three different locations, they finalised my residence for the visit based on certain parameters.
Question: Did you organise the dinner or were instructions provided by the administration?
Answer: We arranged everything on our own. The menu circulating on social media is fake. I have no idea where it originated from.
Question: Were you provided with a specific menu?
Answer: No, we were only instructed to serve traditional village food, and that’s exactly what we did.
Question: What exactly was on the menu?
Answer: The menu included traditional vegetarian dishes like mustard greens, maize bread, nettle greens (bichchu butti), colocasia curry, potatoes and other local delicacies.
Question: What about non-vegetarian dishes? Was “jungle murga” really served?
Answer: Absolutely not. I’m shocked where this information came from. We served “desi murga” (home-reared chicken), which is a customary part of our hospitality. This is a tradition in our community, especially during the winter months, when such dishes are commonly served.
Question: So, do you ever serve wild chicken to guests?
Answer: No, this is incorrect. We only raise and serve desi chicken. Wild chicken is out of the question.
Question: But the menu shared on social media — allegedly issued by the government — clearly mentioned wild chicken. How do you explain this?
Answer: I believe it was a mistake in writing or understanding. People may not have realised the difference between desi chicken and wild chicken. This confusion over terminology led to unnecessary controversy.
Question: Then what is the truth? The government-issued menu and the viral video of the Chief Minister mentioning wild chicken suggest otherwise.
Answer: This is all a result of miscommunication and selective reporting. The Chief Minister asked me if it was possible to serve ‘jungli murga’, and I clarified that it wasn’t ‘jungli murga’ but home-raised ‘desi murga’. Unfortunately, the media didn’t show my explanation and instead focused on his statement. It seems there was also a slip of the tongue on the Chief Minister’s part.
Question: The Chief Minister’s statement about serving ‘jungli murga’ has fuelled a controversy. What do you think about that?
Answer: This misunderstanding arose because only one part of the Chief Minister’s statement was presented. His phrasing may have been a mistake and the media amplified it unnecessarily.
Question: Are you aware that serving ‘jungli murga’ is illegal?
Answer: Of course, I know this.
Question: So, you deny serving or killing ‘jungli murga’?
Answer: Absolutely.
Question: Do you have any final remarks on this controversy?
Answer: Yes, I strongly condemn this baseless controversy. Through your platform, I want to inform everyone that our Hatti community is filing an FIR against those responsible for tarnishing our reputation and questioning our hospitality.
Question: Who will be named in the FIR?
Answer: We will file complaints against electronic and print media journalists who sensationalised this non-issue and defamed our community. Our Hatti community, known for its rich traditions and hospitality, has expressed outrage over the deliberate attempt to malign our image.
