While Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti once again courted controversy on Saturday when he accused a journalist of taking money from the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeted the media “for portraying a negative image of the Aam Aadmi Party as they are associated either with one party or another.”
However, after finding himself cornered by all-round criticism over his “Modi” comment, and with his party reportedly not backing him, Mr. Bharti apologised, saying his statement was “misinterpreted”. “I didn't mean to say that. If anybody is hurt, I would like to apologise to them.”
Earlier in the day, as reporters continued to question Mr. Bharti over the controversy surrounding his “midnight raid,” the Minister accused them of taking money from the Gujarat Chief Minister for asking such queries. While Mr. Kejirwal termed his colleague’s statement “inappropriate,” the Chief Minister himself targeted media in his Republic Day address. “I don't know why media houses are giving negative coverage of the AAP. They are associated either with one party or another.” Mr. Kejriwal claimed that he had got a call from a reporter of a popular news channel who told him that he (the reporter) had been asked by his boss to do a negative story on the AAP.
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This is the second time within a week that the Chief Minister has openly targeted media houses for being “biased” against the AAP. “There are several good journalists, but owners of media houses are not allowing them to work. Half of them favour Rahul Gandhi, while the rest favour Modi,” Mr. Kejirwal said earlier during his two-day protest outside Rail Bhavan.