Kejriwal threatens to send pro-Modi scribes to jail

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has accused the media of taking “hefty money” to promote Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and threatened to send journalists involved in such “conspiracy” to jail, if his party comes to power.

“Since the last one year, we have been told that Modi is here, Modi is there. Even some TV channels have been saying that Ram Rajya has come and corruption has vanished. Why did they do it? (Its) because money has been paid to TV channels.

Heavy amounts have been paid to promote Modi. The whole media is sold out this time,” he was heard saying in a video clip aired by a television channel on Friday.

Kejriwal also charged media with promoting the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under a “huge political conspiracy”, regretting that 800 farmers committed suicide in Gujarat in the last 10 years but “none of the channels” showed it.

“It is a big conspiracy. If our government comes to power then we will set up an inquiry into this. And along with the media people, all will be sent to jail,” the AAP leader vowed, speaking at a fund-raising event of his party in Nagpur on Thursday.

Kejriwal’s remarks drew sharp criticism from political parties and media associations, even as he denied the threat. “I didn't say that. I didn't say anything. How can I be upset with you (media),” he said, when asked.

The AAP, however, rushed in to support Kejriwal, saying it would file a complaint with Election Commission against three news channels—India TV India News and Zee TV—for their biased news coverage in favour of Modi.

‘Times Now’ also carried news that was biased against the AAP, party leader Sanjay Singh charged at a press conference amid heated exchanges  between journalists and AAP leaders.

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) condemned the “repeated attacks” on the media by Kejriwal.

“One hopes the intolerance that is reflected in Arvind Kejriwal’s recent attacks on the media does not represent the new style of politics promised by the Aam Aadmi Party and its leaders,” EGI president N Ravi said in a statement.