APCC says money envelopes "unknowingly" given to journalists

Itanagar, March 30: After a section of Arunachal Pradesh's media accused Congress of trying to bribe media, the APCC today said envelopes containing money were "unknowingly" handed over to few journalists.

Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalist (APUWJ) lodged a complaint with Chief Electoral Office (CEO) against Congress yesterday accusing it of violating model code of conduct by trying to bribe media.

In an explanation letter addressed to the CEO, APCC stated that "a few envelopes containing some amount intended to be disbursed to APCC staff's over time payment received from the party's accountant, were unknowingly handed over to few journalists".

APC and APUWJ had in the complaint claimed that APCC violated the MCC by distributing envelopes containing some cash to media persons after the release of party's manifesto at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan here on March 27. Meanwhile, People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) today urged the CEO to take appropriate legal action against Congress.

Claiming that Congress and BJP in the state have chartered choppers to be used in election campaigning, PPA urged the CEO to keep strict vigil at airfields and landing grounds and conduct thorough checking of luggage to stop illegal movement of 'cash or kind' involving any contesting candidate or his agents.

The party said those choppers might be used for illegal movement of cash for the purpose of buying votes during the campaign.

PTI