Indian Journalists Union condemns BJP bid to bribe journalists in Leh

New Delhi, May 6, 2019:

The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has categorically condemned the attempt of the two BJP leaders to bribe journalists in Leh for favorable poll coverage and threatened them with a defamation suit for what they called “fake propaganda.”

Saluting the journalists for upholding the best tradition of journalism and integrity, the IJU has demanded that the Deputy Electoral Officer, Avny Lavasa, who is also the District Election Officer, ensure that strict action as per the law is taken against the two leaders, who following an inquiry have been found guilty and the police asked to file an FIR against them.

The IJU President and Press Council member Amar Devulapalli and Secretary General and IFJ Vice President, Sabina Inderjit expressed solidarity with its affiliate Ladhakh Journalists Union, the Press Club Leh for their exemplary action and pursuing the matter since May 2.

After BJP State unit President Ravindra Raina addressed a Press Conference, in the afternoon, his colleague and MLC, Vikram Randhawa started distributing envelopes to journalists. Shocked to see Rs 500 notes in these, the journalists felt insulted at BJP’s audacity to bribe them and returned the envelopes outright. The next day, seven journalists, including Presidents of Press Club Leh and Ladhakh Journalists Union Morup Stanzin and Rinchen Angmo respectively, filed an FIR with the SHO, Leh.

Following the incident being reported in social media, the DEO held an inquiry by examining the CCTV coverage of the press conference. In the meantime, Randhawa issued a statement on May 5 alleging that the Press Club Leh was spreading “false propaganda” against him and his party and it was “politically motivated”. He sought a “written apology within 48 hours” or else threatened to file “a defamation case” against it.

The IJU said the BJP leaders’ have had to eat their own words as the inquiry concluded that they did try to bribe the journalists, which is a clear violation of the model code of conduct.

As the Lok Sabha seat goes to the polls today, the IJU, the largest and most representative organization of working journalists in the country, urged its colleagues in Leh to be extra vigilant and continue to play the role of a responsible press, which is critical to the democracy. The Union, its leadership said is committed to extending all support to bring this case to its logical conclusion and ensure that such brazen attempts to influence media by the BJP are exposed.