Chandigarh, March 17 -- The Chandigarh Press Club on Monday condemned the "derogatory" and "inappropriate" language used by Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira against senior woman journalist Jyoti Malhotra, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune. In a written statement, Press Club president Saurabh Duggal said that while disagreement with a journalist's reporting or opinion is a legitimate part of democratic discourse, it must be expressed in a civil and responsible manner. The statement condemning Khaira came after his outburst on the microblogging site X against the senior journalist over a column she had written. The Press Club described the MLA's remarks as "highly derogatory and unacceptable". "Such language not only undermines the dignity of the individual concerned but also reflects poorly on the standards of public discourse," it said. The club urged political leaders to exercise restraint and show respect while expressing criticism of the media. It added that differences of opinion must never descend into personal attacks or disrespectful language, particularly when directed at women journalists. "The Chandigarh Press Club stands firmly with the journalistic community in defending the dignity of the media," it said.htc...