Probe hints merit in complaint that BJP tried to bribe Leh journos

Srinagar: An alleged attempt by BJP leaders to bribe Leh-based reporters for favourable coverage has snowballed into a major political controversy with officials confirming, off the record, that a fact-finding inquiry into the incident has, prima facie, found merit in allegations that media persons were offered “envelops filled with money”. The BJP has denied any wrongdoing.

The inquiry, conducted by Leh’s deputy commissioner and election officer Avny Lavasa, followed a demand from National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, the Congress and journalists’ bodies for an impartial probe into the May 2 incident. A video of the incident had also emerged showing envelopes being distributed at the press conference by Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and former MLC Vikram Randhawa

On May 4, Press Club Leh had accused the BJP of handing money to its members to report in the party’s favour ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Ladakh on May 6.

The BJP has denied any wrongdoing and Mr Raina said on Wednesday that an internal party committee will be set up to probe the allegation.

The saffron party’s probe was announced even as a legislator named in the matter claimed the envelopes given to scribes had invitations to cover a political rally and not money.

Mr Raina also said he will file a defamation case against Press Club Leh for naming him in the bribery complaint, which he said was “politically motivated”.

According to a police complaint filed by the Press club, Mr Rania and Mr Randhawa “tried to bribe media persons” after a press conference held in Ladakh’s main town “to use their platform to influence the outcome of the election”.

Journalists accused the BJP leaders of slipping in a '500 note in each envelop given to four mediapersons at the press conference that preceded defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s rally.

Tsewang Rigzin, one of the reporters who covered the presser, said that they were shocked to see '500 notes in envelopes. Feeling insulted, they returned the envelopes outright. “We showed our anguish then and there at the BJP’s audacity to bribe us,” said the journalist.

When one of the scribes asked BJP leaders about the content of the envelopes, he was told that it is a token of love, alleged a mediaperson.

Some journalists tried to return the money to BJP leaders but they refused to accept it, said the journalist.

Election officer Lavasa, who is the daughter of Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, said that steps have been initiated for filing an FIR.

A statement issued by the Press Club of Leh said that the BJP leaders’ act was a “clear violation of MCC and an attempt to belittle the dignity of media men in Leh”. It said that the members of the Leh-based media fraternity have fought corruption and that it was now up to the authorities to take appropriate action in the matter. “We’ve done our duty. The ball is now in the authorities’ court,” it said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, in a tweet, said, “We expect @JmuKmrPolice & @SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP to take cognisance of this complaint filed by the Press Club in Leh”.

Later he wrote on the micro-blogging site, “In light of the CCTV footage purported to show BJP leaders attempting to bribe journalists in Leh, I’m retweeting my original tweet with the letter of complaint by the Press Club Leh. Action must follow.”

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “If a Congress/TMC/BSP/SP leader was caught trying to pay off media with such solid evidence, media would’ve gone hammer & tongs… 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.”

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