Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked new MPs not to fall for temptation of media publicity. Addressing the newly elected MPs at Central Hall in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said that with speculations rife over who will join his council of ministers, leaders should be cautious of media reports. Modi said, “Do not trust such media reports, as they are aimed at creating confusion and often put out with ‘bad intensions. I am still to go through details of all NDA MPs but in media there are speculative reports on council of ministers.” Modi said, “Don’t fall prey to media questions.”
Meanwhile, the newly elected MPs from Jharkhand have taken PM’s word seriously, with many of them claiming that what Modi said was true and public representatives should be cautious while talking to media.
VD Ram elected as MP for second consecutive time from Palamu said, “A public representative is known by his work. If MPs or MLAs are serious with their work they don’t require media attention.” Ram who defeated RJD candidate Ghuran Ram by the whopping margin of more than 4.77 lakh votes said, “Public representatives should refrain from talking to media. If a leader has no knowledge or understanding of a particular matter, he or she should not give his comment before media unless they are authorized by the party to talk before the media.”
Echoing the views of Ram, Godda BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also said that a leader should keep away from media publicity. Even State BJP leaders claimed that a leader should keep away media publicity. State BJP general secretary, Dipak Prakash said, “Only spokespersons and senior leaders authorized by party should talk to the media and others should be cautious. We will see to it that there is discipline in party.”
Sources said that though the PM’s advice was to all NDA MPs, it was indirectly targeted at some of the vocal MPs who have formed a habit of seeking media attention. One such leader is Bhopal’s newly elected MP, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur. Thakur during election campaign had brought discomfort for BJP. She had stated that “Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a befitting reply in these elections.”
The senior BJP leadership, including PM Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah, had kept a distance from Sadhvi’s remark. Modi had even stated that he will never forgive Sadhvi for her remark.
The BJP had issued a show cause notice to Sadhvi asking her to give her reply within ten days.
Sources said that in Jharkhand there are no BJP MPs who are known for giving controversial statements to the media, but in BJP there are several leaders apart from Sadhvi who are known for their controversial statements.
Begusarai MP and BJP firebrand leader Giriraj Singh, BJP’s twin saffron-clad MPs, Sakshi Maharaj and Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti from Uttar Pradesh who too were successful in reaching Parliament are also known for their controversial remarks, many a times aimed at targeting minorities.
