Media spreading lies about Narendra Modi's development claims: Arvind Kejriwal

Maintaining his charge against the media, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the media is spreading lies about Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's development claims in Gujarat.

"Want to know why some section of the media is lying to the country about Modi's development claims? Will the media ever dare to tell the truth about the Gujarat?" asked Kejriwal.

"Farmers are living in a bad condition there. Their lands have been snatched and are given to Ambani and Adani. It is a big political conspiracy to project Modi as 'vikas purush'," Kejriwal added.

On his charge against the media, Kejriwal said, "I did not generalize…I have evidence. I went to Gujarat and saw the conditions of the farmers. A certain section of media has painted this picture in the whole country that Modi is the true savior of the farmers. But this is not the truth. The country does not know the truth."

He also appealed to the media to present the true picture of Gujarat and conditions of the farmers living there.

On being asked if he is becoming critical of media because he is not being given coverage, Kejriwal said, "I am not important. Arvind Kejriwal and AAP are both not at all important. You criticize us daily, and we are not worried about that. The media used to do that earlier also and we never complained about it."

At a fund-raising event in Nagpur on Thursday, Kejriwal had hit out at the media saying they have been paid heavily to promote Modi. He also lashed out at the media for focusing on his security deployment, and alleged that media is sold and part of the political conspiracy against him.

He further added that if his government comes to power, he will set up an inquiry into this political conspiracy and along with the media people, everyone involved will be sent to prison.

However, as the video went viral stirring a controversy, the AAP chief denied making the remarks.