Kejriwal holds roadshow in Bangalore, fires fresh salvo at media

Bangalore, March 15 (PTI) Jostling for political space in Karnataka, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday hit the campaign trail for the Lok Sabha polls, firing another salvo at the media and claiming people were fed up with "corrupt" governance of both BJP and Congress.

Kejriwal hit the road here travelling in an open jeep, waving at and greeting onlookers and stopping every two or three kms to address people, presenting the nascent AAP as the only alternative to provide a "clean" government.

The AAP leader's cavalcade meandered through several areas in the three Lok Sabha constituencies of Bangalore South, Bangalore Central and Bangalore North, all held by BJP.

Kejriwal was accompanied by party's candidates former Infosys Director V Balakrishnan (Bangalore Central), Nina Nayak (Bangalore South) and Babu Mathew (Bangalore North), even as the roadshow caused traffic snarls at several places.

In Karnataka, it is a mainly a tight two-way race between ruling Congress and BJP. JDS has its own spheres of influence. Contesting all the 28 Lok Sabha seats, AAP is trying to squeeze in as a fourth force.

Before launching the campaign, Kejriwal fired yet another salvo, questioning whether the media had the courage to show the "true story" about Narendra Modi's Gujarat.

Speaking to reporters, he accused the media of not bringing out the "truth" about Modi before the people. "Will the media have the courage to show Gujarat's true story to the people of the country? There is a big question mark," said Kejriwal, who is in the eye of a storm for his remarks that the whole media is "sold out" and media people would be sent to jail after an inquiry into the issue if AAP came to power.

In his address at meetings, he came down on Congress and BJP for their "corrupt rule" in Karnataka and other states. "The people of the state are fed up of both these parties of their corrupt governance."

He sought people's support to strengthen his fight against corruption, price rise, criminal politicians and crony capitalists.

Kejriwal will hold another roadshow tomorrow in Chikkballapur, about 59 kms from here, where Union Minister M Veerappa Moily, who is in his line of fire on gas pricing issue, is contesting. He will conclude his two-day visit with a public rally at Freedom Park.

B D Narayankar

Tweet: #Arvind #Kejriwal holds roadshow in #Bangalore, fires fresh salvo at #media http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140315/nation-politics/article/arvind-kejriwal-holds-roadshow-bangalore-fires-fresh-salvo-media …