"If you fail to beat the journalists up, then inform me and I will take action against them," the lawmaker from Gouranadi and Agailjhara said addressing a meeting at the central Puja Mandap in Agailjhara.

Swapan, also the information and research secretary of the ruling BNP, termed the journalists as "terrorists and toll collectors."

He blamed the local journalists for staging a drama to falsely portray communal repression of the minority after the 2001 general elections.

Swapan told the audience at the meeting that he had won the election despite getting less votes from the minority voters.

The meeting was presided over by Amal Chandra Biswas, president of the Agailjhara Central Puja Committee.

Abul Hossain Laltu, upazila BNP secretary and Professor Ranjit Baroi, local minority leader, also spoke at the meeting.