Sniffing plot to finish AAP, Arvind Kejriwal bats for public trial of media

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said there should be "public trials of (news) media" so as to "expose false news stories". Responding to a suggestion at the launch of a news website Janata Ka Reporter, Kejriwal endorsed the idea of public trials of the (news) media to "control it".

"Your suggestion of public trials of the media is very good," he said, adding, "Public trials can be done. Say, there are 8-10 fixed places in Delhi where the public comes and it is told such and such channel had shown such a thing and it was false. Such public trials can be started."

Kejriwal's comments came after severe jibes against media in general and TV channels in particular. "Just as AAP had exposed politicians, we will expose the media. We won't tolerate blackmailing. Media is with corporates but 'janata' is with us. Some media houses are conspiring against AAP, they have taken 'supari'."

The news website was also asked by the Delhi CM to start its own "public trials" of the news media. Kejriwal also said that the AAP government is looking into tax records and wage details within news organisations. Labour inspectors have been doing the rounds of news organisations, he said. When Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma was asked if the AAP administration has begun moving on the idea, he was noncommittal and responded with a "nothing as such" remark.

Political reactions were swift to the comments. BJP spokesperson and Press Council of India member Meenakshi Lekhi said: "Just as Delhi's voters are wondering who they have voted for, I am sure the media is also wondering who they have promoted. Those who live by the media will be exposed by the media."

Ex-I&B minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "As long as the media kept singing paens of the Aam Aadmi Party, they were very virtuous. The moment they started critique, they have become a devil for Mr Kejriwal and his party. Therefore, Mr Kejriwal should, once and for all, decide whether the media is an angel or a demon and he should not change his stand depending upon the coverage of the day, of his party and the government."