The corporate press comes in handy when there is a media war between ruling-class parties. The Economic Times reported:
“Talking to reporters in Patna on 11-4-2024 Bharti raised the issue of electoral bonds and said BJP leaders in Bihar as well as the PM will be put behind bars for raising donations through the scheme by mis-using central agencies”.
Even thehindu.com reports:
“Modi will go to jail if INDIA bloc wins polls, says Lalu’s elder daughter Misa Bharti”.
It is just as well to recall what PM Modi has said in the past about sending opposition leaders to jail:
- On 27 November 2023 media reported that “Our Resolve is to Send Corrupt BRS Leaders To Jail” (Syndicated feed carried by NDTV).
- The Business Standard dated 10 April 2019 states: “give me 5 more years to put Congress netas in jail-Modi”.
- The India Today dated 8 May 2019 states: “PM Modi targets Robert Vadra, says will send him to jail if voted to power”.
- The ZEE BUSINESS dated 11 April 2024 reported the PM as saying: “the corrupt will have to go to jail”.
The BJP Chief, J.P. Nadda said about Misa Bharti’s comment that such remarks against the PM reflect the frustration of the opposition leaders. Again, Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Union Minister and local BJP MP, advised Misa against passing derogatory remarks towards the PM, reported the TNN, 11 April 2024. The question which arises is if PM can talk of throwing named opposition leaders in jail why can’t Misa Bharti say that she would put BJP leaders in Bihar as well as the PM in jail? Secondly, if such comments show the frustration of the opposition leaders, why is it that the PM’s remarks of similar nature do not represent his frustration against the opposition leaders?
There is another question. The Union Minister, General (retd.) V.K. Singh inquired of Kejriwal (4 January 2024, ANI):
“Why does Kejriwal fear enquiry if he has not done any wrong?”
Anyone can ask the PM as to why is he worried about facing an enquiry in the electoral bond scam if he has done no wrong?
In fact, much earlier the Business Standard dated 27 December 2015 reported:
The AAP leader retorted by asking why Jaitley was “afraid” of a probe if he had done no wrong (reference is to the city government’s enquiry panel into DDCA affairs).
The Way Forward For All Ruling Class Parties
In a democracy there should be no place for any leader to threaten oppositional netas with being thrown in jail. Besides every accused is considered to be innocent till the court convicts that person. It is the job of the police, investigative agencies to collect evidence, file FIR, move court, frame charges and make arrests only if absolutely needed. The moment a political leader of stature threatens oppositional netas with incarceration there is seen a subtle attempt to influence the police, investigative agencies and even the courts. If the PM and his/her cabinet colleagues (present or former) start/join a public campaign advocating jails to be the rightful place for leaders of opposition parties this could constitute a media trial; even the party chief may get emboldened to join this cacophony. The ruling party should stay distanced from the police-judicial system so that the citizen’s trust in this system is not decreased.
P.S. Sahni is a member of PIL Watch Group
