Media out to tarnish Congress: Pravin Singh Aron

BAREILLY: Congress MP and party candidate from Bareilly Pravin Singh Aron, during the rally of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said that a large section of the news media, including TV news channels, in cahoots with some corporate houses, were out to tarnish the image of the Congress party. Aron is known to speak poorly of the media in private conversations.

Making a short speech during the election rally at Aonla, Aron claimed that half the electronic media channels had been bought over by corporate magnate, Mukesh Ambani, at a price of Rs 1640 crore. Aron said the channels were being used to run a slanderous campaign against the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance government.

"What Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi does is always portrayed as wrong by the media, while what (BJP prime minister hopeful) Modi is doing is always considered right. Going by their perception, the Congress party is solely responsible for all the shortcomings and all good done for the country goes to the credit of BJP," Aron said.

When TOI sought to know on what basis Aron was making the allegations, he said, "I have convincing proof that such activity is going on since the last two and a half years. If the need arises, I will come out with clinching evidence." Last month, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed that large sections of the media were sold out, and paid to promote the BJP and its prime minister aspirant, Narendra Modi.