Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday denied allegations of bribing the journalists during a press conference in Leh on May 2 and said it was the handiwork of anti-party elements in Kashmir which were sponsored by Congress party.
“Allallegations of Leh journalists are baseless and misleading. It was supported by’anti-BJP elements in Kashmir’ and Congress to malign the image of the party,”BJP’s Ladakh incharge Vikram Randhawa said while addressing a press conferencein Jammu today.
Randhawa,who has also been accused of bribing the journalists, said the CCTV footage ofthe incident being circulated doesn’t show the BJP leaders bribing thejournalists.
“TheCCTV grab being circulated on the social media is of the invitation envelopesbeing given to reporters for the coverage of Defence Minister NirmalaSitharaman’s visit to Leh on May 4. This is being shown as if money is beinggiven to them,” the MLC said.
Heclaimed that some media persons opened the envelopes and returned them sayingthey don’t need special invitation as they were already covering the event.
“Afterthe event some Congress ‘minded’ journalists deliberately created hype over italleging that money is being given to them,” Randhawa claimed.
“Afterpress conference, these same journalists were with us for about one hour andrelished lavish lunch for which we paid Rs 11,000 bill. Normally when 8-10people dine together, the bill could be Rs 1000-2000 but their launch cost us Rs11,000, isn’t it also a type of bribe? Randawha questioned.
Hesaid that the party will file defamation case against Leh journalists.
Randhawasaid that party leaders are ready to face any lie detector test, if theauthorities feel it was required to find out the truth.
Presidentof the Press Club Leh, Morup Stanzin has accused the BJP of bribing reportersto influence the election outcome and shift the narrative in the party’sfavour.
A two-page letter, as a part of a complaint, signed by several members of the club, was submitted to the Election Commissioner on May 3.