Media has no guts to expose Modi's Gujarat: Kejriwal

Bangalore, March 15 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal said Saturday the media has no guts to expose the darker side of Gujarat under the leadership of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

"Has media guts to expose Modi? They are only repeating all the lies he tells in campaign speeches about the so-called development in Gujarat," an unfazed Kejriwal told reporters here during the AAP road show underway in this tech hub.

Continuing his vicious attack on the media, especially news channels, Kejriwal said the truth about Modi's development claims was hollow.

"The question, however, is which media house will dare show that. For instance, about 800 farmers committed suicide and about 16,000 small scale industries shut down under Modi's regime. But these stark facts are neither shown nor reported," Kejriwal said.

Recalling his recent visit to Gujarat for a firsthand account and assessment of the much-touted Modi's development model and growth across sectors, Kejriwal said corruption was no less in that state than elsewhere.

"Corruption reeks across Gujarat even 11 years after Modi became its chief minister. Why doesn't media go there and verify what I am saying. Is it not its job or duty to tell people the harsh reality there? Will media have the courage to tell the truth about Modi's Gujarat at least now for people to know before the general elections?," Kejriwal said.

Lamenting that some sections of the media were deliberately misleading the people by bluffing about the development in Gujarat under Modi, the former Delhi chief minister said a make-believe image was being created to influence the people to vote for the BJP.

"It is not just the BJP which is desperate to grab power, but some media houses, which are showing and writing on opinion polls based on false surveys on behalf of vested interests who are keen on making Modi prime minister," Kejriwal said.