New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI): Narendra Modi attacked the government for issuing media advisory for showing his speech at par with the PM's independence day address alleging it was trying to gag him and BJP, a claim rebuffed by Union minister Manish Tewari who questioned the freedom of press in Gujarat.
The Information and Broadcasting minister said the Gujarat CM had his facts about the advisory wrong and added that Modi talking about freedom of press was like the "devil preaching scriptures."
Earlier at a rally in Bahraich in UP, Modi had alleged that an advisory was issued by the Centre to TV media on why he was shown "at par" with the PM while he was addressing the nation from the Red Fort on August 15.
"The advisory was issued this week for what was shown on last August 15. The Central government was not concerned about the honour of the PM but that on October 27 when Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi were addressing in Patna their 'shehzade' was giving a speech in Delhi," he said, in a reference to Rahul Gandhi's Delhi rally.
"Media's fault was that though they were showing the 'shehzade', Modi was also seen and heard and so Congress was feeling frustrated", he had said.
Responding to the comments, I&B minister Manish Tewari said that the event Modi was referring to, occurred on October 27, the advisory had been issued much earlier on October 21.
"Cong Delhi Rally - 27th Oct, Advisory issued - 21st Oct. Like Sardar Patel Ads, regrettably CM Gujarat once more sacrifices truth at alter of TRP's," Tewari said in tweet.
In another tweet, he said that a case had been filed against the editor of leading daily in his state and telecast of live proceedings of Gujarat Assembly was also not allowed.
"Prosecute ... editor for treason- Ahmedabad ban live telecast of Assembly proceedings, Gujarat Model of Press Freedom - Devil preaching scriptures," he tweeted.
Tewari accused Modi of curbing media freedom in Gujarat. He defended the advisory saying it was only advice. He also said that Modi only made speeches and never answered journalists' questions.