'Take Journalists To Dhabas' To Avoid Negative Publicity: Maha BJP Chief's 'Advise' To Workers Sparks Row

Bawankule emphasised that he just meant that journalists be handled with respect and that party employees strive to learn their views on the assigned booths.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

Source : X/@cbawankule

An audio tape of Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule supposedly asking party officials to take journalists to dhabas and treat them well in order to avoid negative publicity ahead of elections has gone viral, prompting accusations that the BJP was attempting to control the media, news agency PTI reported. These "instructions" were allegedly provided by Bawankule in Ahmednagar, where he was addressing a meeting of BJP activists on voting booth administration. Under outcry from the opposition, Bawankule emphasised that he just meant that journalists be handled with respect and that party employees strive to learn their views on the assigned booths.

According to the recording, Bawankule says, "small-time video journalists running news portals and residing in your booth areas sometimes present a minor incident as if some blast has occurred."

"Prepare a list of such nuisance-creating journalists, including those from the electronic media or print, and invite them for a cup of tea to dhabas so that they would not write anything against us ahead of Maha Vijay 2024. You know what I mean by inviting them for a cup of tea,” he was quoted by PTI in its report.

Sujay Vikhe Patil, the local BJP MP, is available to fill any gaps, he added.

“Take them to dhabas. Treat them well and ensure no negative news comes out against us. There should be positive news about us. Protect your own booths first,” Bawankule said.

In response to the audio clip, Maharashtra opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar said: “Not all journalists are sold out. Do you think journalists accept crumbs? I can understand the restlessness of your leaders, both of the top level and local ones, as they could not suppress the voice of dissent. But you directly started making offers to journalists?”

This implies you (BJP) would try to provide some "crumbs" to voters before of the polls, Wadettiwar said, adding that the people will undoubtedly rip the BJP apart.

State Congress president Nana Patole called Bawankule's remarks "insulting" to the media.

"The Congress has given due importance to journalists but the BJP made them look cheap. It is a devaluation of the media fraternity," he alleged.

Taking to X (previously known as Twitter), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto stated: “Is BJP Maharashtra state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule asking BJP workers to treat the journalists who speak the truth or is his statement a veiled threat to true journalists?”

The opposition's voice, according to NCP MP Supriya Sule, is a beauty of democracy, but the BJP does not allow criticism.

"Newspapers work as the opposition in a democracy, but the BJP state president is giving lessons on how to muzzle the media. It is a serious matter and condemnable action," she was quoted by PTI in its report.

Sule stated that the manner in which Bawankule makes such remarks indicates that he has prior expertise.

"It is the BJP's policy to not let journalists function smoothly. The BJP should either admit that it does not accept democracy or it should apologise to the people and scribes," she said.

Bawankule then explained that he meant that journalists are so important that they can even change people's minds.

"Journalists are also voters and why should there be a bias against them? It is not good if you do not meet them, talk to them or seek their opinion. I gave this kind of advice to them (BJP workers)," Bawankule informed reporters.

Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a BJP leader, stated that what Bawankule said and how it was received are two distinct things.

"There is no need to interpret his comments in any other way. Sometimes, when you are talking to your party workers certain things are said in a lighter vein. There is no need to create a controversy," he added.