The Indian Journalists Union is shocked and strongly condemns the reported attempt by an official at Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office to bribe dozen-odd journalists by giving “cash” gifts ranging between Rs 1 and 2.5 lakhs on Diwali. The cash was in envelopes along with sweet boxes in hampers sent to them. Hailing the response by at least two journalists, who returned the gifts, the IJU demands an inquiry by Lokayukta be instituted as well as the Press Council of India take suo moto notice and appropriate action.

According to media reports in The News Minute three of around a dozen journalists, who allegedly received the hampers, confirmed cash was distributed and two of them claimed they had given it back to Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). While Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has denied knowledge of any ‘cash’ gifts being given, the IJU said that his Media Advisor clearly wouldn’t have acted on his own.

It is further reported that the amount of cash differed for chief reporters and editorial heads, but it could not be ascertained how many journalists were given the cash hamper and how many returned it. Reports also emanate that a Minister in Bommai government is said to have distributed gold coins to select journalists!

In a statement, the IJU President and former Member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and FAPaJ President Sabina Inderjit said the brazen bribe being offered to journalists through Diwali hampers was shocking and unheard of. Diwali is a festival of exchanging gifts, but the Karnataka government has misused it to bribe journalists. It is unethical and the government must be made unanswerable. The PCI must take suo moto notice.

Promotional | KRC Foundation