Kejriwal in Bangalore: 'Will media have courage to show Gujarat's true story?'

Bangalore, Mar 15 (PTI): Unfazed by the criticism of his attack on media, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal today fired yet another salvo, questioning whether the media had the courage to show the "true story" about Narendra Modi's Gujarat.

Speaking to reporters before launching his roadshow in Bangalore, he accused the media of not bringing out the "truth" about the Gujarat Chief Minister before the people.

"Will the media have the courage to show Gujarat's true story to the people of the country? There is a big question mark," said Kejriwal whose comments against the media have brought him in the line of fire from media and political parties alike.

Kejriwal had sparked a controversy with his remarks that the whole media is "sold out" and media people would be sent to jail after an inquiry into the issue if AAP comes to power were aired.

During the two-day tour, Kejriwal is also attending a Rs 20,000 per person dinner to raise funds for AAP. He will hold a roadshow in Chikkaballapur tomorrow before concluding the visit with a rally in Bangalore.

Charging the BJP's prime ministerial candidate with "cheating" people during his rallies, he said "that is what the people are saying. So far, the media has not brought out the truth about Modi before the people."

Asked about the evidence to back his allegations about Modi, he said, the condition of farmers was "pathetic" as their land had been snatched. "There is a publicity going around that Modiji is a saviour of farmers. No Modiji is not the saviour. The country's farmers have been told a lie."

"If the farmers come to know of it, none of them will vote for Modi. I am not generalising. I have seen it myself in Gujarat. Therefore, I ask the media to show the truth."

Kejriwal said the media should show the "real conditions" prevailing in Gujarat. "They should show the rule of corruption and bribe in Gujarat. Before Delhi (Assembly) elections, the media had done a sting operation against us. Did we say anything. Modiji is telling big lies to the nation which is a very big conspiracy."

Asked to name the channels which he had alleged were being paid for Modi's coverage, he refused to answer.

Kejriwal's road show draws curious crowds

IANS

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal began his road show here Saturday to campaign for his party's candidates contesting the general elections April 17 across Karnataka.

"Kejriwal's maiden road show in the city is drawing curious crowds and enthusiastic youth, including many who are volunteering to canvas for our candidates in the poll fray from the three Lok Sabha seats in the city," AAP spokesman Rohit Ranjan told IANS here.

Kick-starting the road show from Hebbal in northwest suburb amid tight security, Kejriwal's cavalcade passed through thickly populated localities such as Ganganagar, R T Nagar, Jayamahal, Cantonment and Queens Road in the city centre by noon.

Flanked by the party's candidates - former Infosys honcho V. Balakrishnan (Bangalore Central), Nina Nayak (Bangalore South), Babu Mathew (Bangalore North) as well as party's state unit convener Pritvi Reddy - in a maroon multi-utility vehicle with open rooftop, Kejriwal greeted and waved to the people who stood on both sides of the roads.

Though the AAP convey, led by a dozen motorbikes of its volunteers, stuck to the routes and thoroughfares cleared by the traffic police, its slow movement and gathering of people at signal junctions and cross-roads enroute caused grid lock as vehicular movement had to be diverted and restricted to ease the situation.

"We are sticking to the route cleared by the police and conducting the road show in accordance with the model code of conduct with the permitted number of vehicles. Other vehicles behind or in front of our convey belong to public, including some ardent fans who are extending support to our leader," Rajan said.

The fledgling party's symbol broom was held high by some of the candidates and volunteers.

Halting at every 2-3 km and holding a makeshift mike and loudspeaker, Kejriwal sought the people's support in strengthen his battle against corruption, price rise, criminal politicians and crony capitalists.

"I hope the intelligent and discerning voters of this reputed cosmopolitan will strengthen our party's battle against the ills plaguing the country by joining hands with us," Kejriwal asserted.

Urging the people to press the party's symbol in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for providing an alternative government, Kejriwal said in chaste Hindi using English words liberally that Bangalore and Karnataka people had great responsibility to clean-up the system for transparent governance, infrastructure development and efficient delivery of goods and services by bureaucrats by electing his party to power.

After winding through the three Lok Sabha constituencies in the city, the road show will conclude at the War Memorial in the city centre by late Saturday.

Kejriwal will also attend a fund-raising dinner at a star hotel in the city late Saturday on the first day of his two-day weekend trip to the state.

He will drive Sunday to Chikkballapur, about 70km from here, to hold road shows and address a public meeting in the backward district from where union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily has been re-nominated by the ruling Congress to contest from the parliamentary constituency in the neighbouring district.

On return by Sunday afternoon, Kejriwal will address a public rally at Freedom Park in the city centre as part of the poll campaign.