NEW DELHI/NAGPUR (TIP): Arvind Kejriwal found himself embroiled in a raging controversy after a surprising comment by him threatening to send mediapersons to jail for allegedly promoting BJP leader Narendra Modi for monetary considerations went viral. The controversy could well signal the end of the Aam Admi Party’s already fraying honeymoon with the media.

A video of Kejriwal’s diatribe against the media at a fund raising dinner in Nagpur on Thursday saw him promise an inquiry against mediapersons if AAP came to power. “If our government comes to power then we will set an inquiry into this. And along with media people, all will be sent to jail,” he said.

The video marked a shocking and sweeping attack on the media for allegedly hyping up Modi while airing negative or critical news about AAP and immediately sparked off a furious spat between the party and its political opponents with BJP and Congress leaders condemning Kejriwal’s comments as reflecting a dictatorial and vengeful mindset.

Though Kejriwal denied the remarks saying, “I didn’t say that. I didn’t say anything. How can I be upset with you (media),” his senior party colleagues Dilip Pande, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Ashish Khetan stuck to charging TV and print media with targeting AAP and promoting BJP. Kejriwal’s comments and their justification by senior AAP leaders marks a new low in the rapidly deteriorating relationship between the party and the media after an initial phase last year when the new outfit received rave reviews.

In UP, NaMo gujia takes on RaGa namkeen
ALLAHABAD (TIP): The political climate has influenced Holi celebrations in Allahabad this year with ‘NaMo’ Gujias taking on ‘RaGa’ namkeen in two different shops of the Old City area. The Gujias named Narendra Modi are a hit. The unique Gujia priced at Rs 80 per piece weighs around 250 grams as a normal one. “The NaMo design is carefully applied on one side of the gujia. It is written by Kesar (saffron) and as the gujia is fried, saffron coloured word starts reflecting on one side of the sweet,” said Subodh, the shop owner. The sweet has been an instant hit as the trial stock of around 75 pieces was sold off within a couple of hours after being put on display, he said.

Court imposes Rs 2,500 fine each on Kejriwal, Sisodia
NEW DELHI (TIP): A trial court on March 15 imposed a fine of Rs 2,500 each on Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia after they failed to appear before it in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against them by Union telecom minister Kapil Sibal’s lawyer son Amit Sibal. Metropolitan magistrate Sunil Kumar Sharma, however, accepted their pleas seeking exemption from personal appearance for the day only. The court also released AAP leaders Prashant Bhushan and Shazia Ilmi, who had appeared before it, on an undertaking that they would appear before the court on each and every date of hearing.

Trinamool Congress rules out post-poll tie-up with BJP
Kolkata (TIP): Trinamool Congress on March 15 ruled out any post-poll alliance with BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “There is no question of any tie-up with BJP before or after the Lok Sabha poll,” Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy said. Earlier, to a question at a media briefing during the day, he said that there was no question of Trinamool Congress going soft on BJP PM nominee Narendra Modi. “Our fight is against corruption of the UPA government and communalism of BJP. We have consistent stance against communalism. Our leader Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly said including at the Brigade Parade Ground rally on January 30 that we do not want the face of riots,” he said.