Media personnel from Times Now were subjected to physical assault at the office of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. The attack has exposed the opposition, known for repeatedly labelling Prime Minister Narendra Modi as authoritarian.
The incident occurred as journalists were covering the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) report concerning AAP, specifically related to Akanksha Khurana’s investigation into the party’s foreign funding. Additionally, the cameraman accompanying her was also subjected to physical handling, and his camera was damaged during the altercation.
Reports from OpIndia suggest that Aam Aadmi Party’s Chief Media Coordinator, Vikas Kumar, orchestrated this misconduct. The journalists were questioning foreign funding, which seemed to irk the party leaders. Alongside physical assaults, the journalists were subjected to verbal abuse, and the camera screen was shattered. This entire ordeal was captured on camera.
It’s worth noting that Arvind Kejriwal’s party received ₹7.08 crore in foreign funding between 2014 and 2022. The ED has also forwarded a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding this matter. The report explicitly states that Arvind Kejriwal’s party violated the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) and the Representation of the People Act (RPA) of 1951.
Nakia Kumar from ‘Times Now’ revealed that this isn’t the first time such behavior has occurred towards their channel’s journalists. Following their exposure of the “Sheeshmahal” scandal, their journalist, Bhavna Kishore, was also unjustly imprisoned.
According to reports from Times Now, the National Union of Journalists India (NUJI) has urged for strict action against those responsible for assaulting Times Now video journalist Akanksha Khajuria by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers. NUJI National President Ras Bihari stated that Times Now journalists were inquiring about AAP party corruption and scandals. It appears that the anger of AAP members was directed towards the journalist due to their discontent with the party’s scrutiny.
Bihari emphasized that democracy permits freedom to expose political party corruption and interrogate their leaders, asserting the media’s right to pose questions. He suggested that the repeated disdain of AAP leaders towards the media may stem from their dwindling support base. Bihari further indicated that instances of media personnel being attacked would be addressed by the Press Council of India.
Statement by the video Journalist
Recalling the assault, a video journalist from Times Now recounted the harrowing experience, stating that AAP workers violently seized the cable, proceeded to vandalize the camera, and then struck him on the head. “While engaging with AAP workers, they forcefully grabbed the cable, damaging the camera in the process. Subsequently, they wielded the cable as a weapon, hitting me on the head,” she recounted.
Times Now exposed an alleged foreign funding scandal involving AAP
In a revelation by Times Now on Monday, it was uncovered that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) purportedly received Rs 7.08 crore in foreign donations between 2014 and 2022. The report, citing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) dossier sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, alleges that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party violated the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the Representation of People Act (RPA). According to FCRA regulations, political parties are prohibited from accepting foreign funds.
Under the investigative series titled ‘Operation Black Dollar’ conducted by Times Now, it was revealed that the AAP allegedly received funds from countries including Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. Notably, several donors used the same credit cards for these transactions. The ED dossier further accuses AAP member Pathak of misappropriating foreign funding. The foreign donations were reportedly directly deposited into the AAP’s IDBI bank account, as per the dossier’s findings.
The AAP government, known for its criticisms of the BJP, finds itself under scrutiny as Delhi CM Kejriwal faces allegations of involvement in a liquor scam investigated by ED officials. The public backlash against Kejriwal and his administration has been severe since these revelations came to light. However, as the media begins to report on the truth behind the AAP, alarming incidents of assaults on media officials have surfaced, indicating a concerning trend. It is imperative that authorities take swift action to address these attacks and ensure the safety of journalists.
