Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who was the target of a Sikh journalist's ire on Tuesday on the issue of CBI clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in anti-Sikh riots cases, said on Wednesday that he thought the scribe intended to provoke him and not hurt him.

He said it was for the party to decide whether it should give ticket to Tytler and he cannot comment because he "is neither the minister-in-charge nor the judge."

"I cannot pronounce anybody guilty or innocent," he said when asked by a TV channel whether it was proper for the party to give tickets to people like Tytler against whom questions have been raised.

"No, not at all. I don't think he intended to hurt me. He intended to provoke me. Why should I be provoked," he said in reply to a question whether he was scared by Tuesday's incident.

He also said that he did not expect the journalist to apologise to him personally as he has apologised and his employer called up to apologise. "I don't expect any further apology."

Asked if he felt that the journalist's action would rapture relations between media and politicians, the minister said "why, no, not at all. I think it was an emotional outburst by one journalist and I think we should allow it to rest."

To another question if this incident merited enhanced security for him, Chidambaram shot back saying "one PSO is one too many." Asked if he was sure, he said "hundred per cent sure."

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