A controversial audio clip of Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule has surfaced in which he seemingly encouraged party workers to take journalists to dhabas (roadside restaurants) to manage their media coverage ahead of the elections. The audio was purportedly recorded during a gathering of BJP workers in Ahmednagar discussing poll booth management.
Bawankule clarified his intentions, stating that he meant journalists should be treated respectfully, and the party should understand their opinions about the allocated booths. In the clip, he mentioned dealing with nuisance-creating journalists who overstate minor incidents and suggested inviting them for tea to dhabas to prevent negative news.
In the audio, Bawankule can be heard saying that ‘’small-time video journalists running news portals and residing in your booth areas sometimes present a minor incident as if some blast has taken place’’. ‘’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 added.
If there are some shortcomings Sujay Vikhe Patil, local BJP MP, is there, 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.
The opposition criticized Bawankule, with Maharashtra’s opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar questioning whether the BJP plans to offer “crumbs” to voters as well. 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?”
State Congress president Nana Patole condemned the statements as an insult to the media.
NCP MP Supriya Sule accused the BJP of not allowing journalists to work smoothly and called for an apology or an acknowledgment of not supporting democracy. ‘’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 said. In response, Bawankule later emphasized the importance of journalists, stating that they can influence people’s opinions. ‘’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 told reporters.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the controversy, stating that some comments were made in a lighter vein during a conversation with party workers.
‘’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.
