Be more aggressive, but maintain decency: BJP to its media cell

NEW DELHI: BJP top brass today asked the party's spokespersons and media cell office bearers from across the states to be more aggressive in taking on Congress, but maintain decency and decorum while countering the opposition through television debates and press interactions.

At a closed-door media workshop organised for its spokespersons, panelists and media cells at the Centre and in states, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley dwelt on the "do's and don'ts" while handling the media and attacking the political opponents.

Swaraj, who inaugurated the workshop, said party leaders should exercise caution while hitting out at the Congress as "words once spoken cannot be taken back", party sources said.

She emphasised on the need for the spokespersons and panelists to speak in one voice and maintain decorum while firmly rubbishing arguments of the political adversaries.

Swaraj said the Congress should be targeted on issues like corruption, state of the economy and malgovernance, among other issues.

In his address, Jaitley expressed dissatisfaction at the manner in which the BJP spokespersons had tackled Congress charges against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi after his Independence Day speech.

Jaitley said Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had used derogatory words against Modi which should have been countered strongly but decently.

The BJP has also demanded that Azad should take back his words immediately and also tender an apology for his remarks.

Jaitley said there is a need to take on the Congress in a more aggressive fashion. Sources said he asked the spokespersons to be better prepared to sound more convincing.

He underlined the need for setting the agenda in the media and public debates and not follow the one set by the Congress, and rued that the party was not doing this.