Arvind Kejriwal threatens to jail media for 'promoting' Narendra Modi?

Mumbai: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal rustled more feathers on Thursday night when he threatened to jail many for corruption, including those in the media, if he came to power.

At a fund-raising dinner in Nagpur on Thursday night, Kejriwal alleged the media has been paid a "heavy amount for promoting Narendra Modi".

"For the last one year our minds have been filled with Modi, Modi... Modi and some TV channels have been saying that corruption has ended, Ram Rajya has come, this has happened, that has happened; why? Because money has been paid, TV channels have been paid a heavy amount to promote Modi”, the media has quoted him as saying.

The report quoted him: “800 farmers have committed suicide in Gujarat in the last 10 years, this no one will tell; Adani has been sold land at Rs 1, this no channel will tell. Arvind has taken security, he has not taken security, has taken Z category, Y category, arre bhaad main gayi teri security, they will not reveal the truth about Modi.”

Kejriwal allegedly went on to say: “This time, the whole media has sold itself, it is a big conspiracy. If we ever form the government, we will probe this and everybody, including media personnel, would be sent to jail.” Kejriwal later denied having made statements against the media, the report mentioned.

Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "I really don't get AAP & Arvind Kejriwal's criticism of the media. But for the blanket coverage he has received AAP wouldn't exist today. (sic)"

Well, Arvind Kejriwal has made allegations in the past against the media but has not come forward with proof. A recent leaked tape has also suggested that the AAP leader tried to manipulate parts of his interview with a journalist.

Kejriwal also kicked up a stir in Mumbai earlier this week after his 'local train and auto rickshaw' ride in the city threw traffic in disarray and damaged property at the Andheri railway station. But Kejriwal was quick to dismiss the coverage of that day as a 'tamasha' created by the media.

After making the alleged 'will jail media' comment, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is reported to have said: "Ye 'khaasi baba' se 'maafi baba' ban gaye hai, pehle comment karte hai phir maafi maangte hai." Congress leader Manish Tiwari has responded by saying: "Media has an important role to play and anyone who makes comment like this is unfortunate. Those who are in public life and politics must face the media and criticism. I would also like to tell the media they should be balanced in their reportage of the 2014 election campaign."

Slamming Kejriwal for his remarks, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, "I was aghast to hear Kejriwal speaking at a Nagpur rally that the whole media is sold out to Modi. And more than tha,t he said if we come to power, we will institute an inquiry and put all mediapeople in jail.

"This is a fascist tendency and emergency mindset. He is working for the Congress... He is not speaking about Rahul Gandhi or the Congress. He is only targeting Modi because he wants to get mileage out of it. His mindset is revealed -- they are Maoists in urban outfit."

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also said, "The media made him a hero overnight. And now he is sending the same media to jail. Media should decide what to do with that organisation."
He also questioned the AAP's source of funds. Accusing Kejriwal of running away from governance, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "He can't do anything to the media because the media is competent."

CPI leader D Raja said Kejriwal has made "hyperbolic statements" in the recent past. "I don't know what are his tactics but the Left has been saying for long certain things that Kejriwal is saying today... The corporate houses are fully backing Modi."