Leh bribery case: Why the radio silence and no hashtags, Mehbooba asks media
Srinagar: Questioning the ‘silence of media’ about BJP allegedly attempting to bribe journalists in Leh for getting favourable coverage during Lok Sabha polls, former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that if other political leaders were caught trying to pay off press, media would have gone hammer and tongs about it.
A video has gone viral on social media in which BJP leaders could be seen handing over envelopes, allegedly containing money, to journalists in Leh. However, the authenticity of the video could not be verified.
The Press Club of Leh (PCL) has alleged that the envelopes had money in it and has filed a complaint against BJP leaders for allegedly offering bribe to some members of the club on May 2.
“Why the radio silence and no hashtags,” Ms Mehbooba, who is the president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked.
“If a Congress / TMC / BSP / SP leader was caught trying to pay off media with such solid evidence, media would’ve gone hammer & tongs about it. Why the radio silence & no hashtags? Glad to know that some have the guts to refuse. Proud of Avny Lavasa who put them in their place,” Ms Mehbooba wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
In the police complaint, the Press Club of Leh in Police Station Leh alleged that BJP leaders, including its State President Ravinder Raina and former MLC Vikram Randhawa, ‘tried to bribe media persons on May 2 after a press conference to use their platform to influence the outcome of the election’.
“We didn’t accept the offer and rejected it out rightly and showed our anguish at their attempt,” the complaint said.
“The press fraternity of Ladakh strongly condemns this,” the complaint said and asked police to file an FIR against Raina and Randhawa for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and for trying to bribe media.
KV News
