 "'My govt will send media to jail': Kejriwal")
Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kerjiwal has stepped up his attack on the media, saying he would put "paid journalists" behind bars once he comes to power at the Centre.
Addressing a gathering at the fund-raising dinner organised by the party at a hotel in Nagpur, Maharashtra on Thursday night, Kejriwal alleged that bribes have been paid to promote Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "The whole media is sold out," Kejriwal charged.
"For the past one year, we have been hearing that Modi is here, Modi is here. Even Modi has been saying that, along with some TV channels, that Ram Rajya has come, corruption has vanished" Why is this happening" Because heavy sum has been paid to TV channels to promote Modi," Kejriwal said in a video clip aired by a news channel on Friday.
The AAP leader also took a dig at the media for raising questions about his security coverage. "We will set up an inquiry and, along with the media persons, everyone will be sent to jail."
Kejriwal"s comments drew sharp criticism from various political parties as well as the Broadcast Editors" Association (BEA).
Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said: "Media is an extremely important part of our democratic firmament, but for somebody to really extrapolate and say that he will send media to jail is extremely authoritarian and very intolerant point of view."
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"BEA condemns Arvind Kejriwal's irresponsible statement on media. BEA believes that electronic media is discharging its responsibility in a fair and objective manner," BEA said in a statement.
The widespread criticism led to Kejriwal"s retracting his statement later. "I did not say anything. How can I be upset with you (media)"" Kejriwal later told reporters.
AAP leaders also sought to play down the incident. "Kejriwal has said that a section of media was implementing the agenda of Modi and the BJP. His comments were directed against them. His comments were against those who distort news and resort to paid news," said senior party leader Sanjay Singh.