BJP alleges 'paid news' over Rahul Gandhi's interview to a newspaper before polls; approaches Election Commission

The BJP has alleged that an interview by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi published ahead of the polls in a newspaper was ‘paid’ news.

The BJP has said that it is the ‘shining example’ of paid news and will approach the Election Commission filing the complain.

Already, BJP has submitted a memorandum by the delegation led by union ministers JP Nadda, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and BJP’s media in-charge Anil Baluni to the Election Commission and have also enclosed the copy of the interview which was published from Hyderabad, which said “the reporting by way of an interview...is shining example of paid news,” as reported by the NDTV.

While briefing the media, union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Just a day before the polling in Telangana and Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi through his interview, which was actually a paid news, tried to influence voters and electoral process also. It is a violation of electoral reforms.”

Naqvi further added that, “This news (interview) comes under the category of paid news. As per the rules no campaigning or such interviews should be done 48 hours before the polling. Gandhi intentionally tried to influence voters and free and fair process of election. We demand an immediate action against him and his party.”

The memorandum of the BJP, which the party submitted before the poll panel added that the interview “goes against the very spirit and parameters of the permitted coverage in the compendium of poll panel's compendium of instructions on the media related matters.”

The result of the five states which went to poll in November and December will be declared on December 11.

Also read: Assembly Election Exit Polls 2018: Congress leads in Rajasthan & MP, close fight in Chhattisgarh as KCR