Exclusive: Reality check on paid political rallies in India by News Nation
New Delhi : Paying or coercing participants to come to rallies is an ongoing issue in the capital’s political sphere. Ahead elections this action gathers speed as paid political rallies play a pivot role in India. The debates, political blame games and huge gatherings define the mood swings of the masses.
News Nation’s Deepak Tyagi and Veerendra Vashishtha, in their exclusive sting ‘Operation M’, have tried to throw light on behind the curtain details of such rallies.
In an undercover operation, the channel’s reporters spoke to four minority cell BJP leaders, who shared their requirements for upcoming rallies in Delhi.
Zafar Rizvi, BJP leader of minority cell: After much bargaining, Rizvi agreed to rope in people at the rate of Rs 200 per person. He accepted that people of different communities and religion are used to showcase support to several parties.
Dr Mohammed Aslam, BJP minority cell District President New Shahadra, admitted that non-Muslims are sometimes projected as Muslims in BJP rallies. He also fixed Rs 200 as the rate for the people.
Another BJP leader Mohammed Hasan disclosed that his party require people, but not for Narendra Modi’s Delhi rally. He emphasised that some of his people will be getting tickets in future, for that he require Muslim supporters in the rallies.
Atif Rasheed, president of Delhi BJP’s minority cell:
Atif Rasheed, president of Delhi BJP’s minority cell has a tough job at hand. With Muslims forming 11 percent of electoral population in the national capital, any party eyeing the Delhi assembly, cannot ignore the community in the run-up to the November 2013 election. Muslims can influence election results in around eight of 70 assembly seats in Delhi.
Mr Rasheed mentioned that nearly 25K people have been arranged for Modi’s September 29 rally in Delhi. For which his partymen have worked really hard in 14 districts. He also gave the example of June 23 Talkatora stadium rally where 15K people were roped in.
Boasting about his party’s work in the transformation of Modi’s image, Rasheed mentioned, ‘BJP has done a lot to improve Modi's image. In 11 years no riot has taken place in Modi’s tenure and Gujarat is the first state in country where rioters are being sent to jail.’
Reactions on sting:
Kamaal R Khan tweets: 'NewsNation is showing that BJP paid to ppl to attend Modi's rally in Delhi. Hahahaha Narayan Narayan.'
In an undercover operation, the channel’s reporters spoke to four minority cell BJP leaders, who shared their requirements for upcoming rallies in Delhi.
Zafar Rizvi, BJP leader of minority cell: After much bargaining, Rizvi agreed to rope in people at the rate of Rs 200 per person. He accepted that people of different communities and religion are used to showcase support to several parties.
Dr Mohammed Aslam, BJP minority cell District President New Shahadra, admitted that non-Muslims are sometimes projected as Muslims in BJP rallies. He also fixed Rs 200 as the rate for the people.
Another BJP leader Mohammed Hasan disclosed that his party require people, but not for Narendra Modi’s Delhi rally. He emphasised that some of his people will be getting tickets in future, for that he require Muslim supporters in the rallies.
Atif Rasheed, president of Delhi BJP’s minority cell:
Atif Rasheed, president of Delhi BJP’s minority cell has a tough job at hand. With Muslims forming 11 percent of electoral population in the national capital, any party eyeing the Delhi assembly, cannot ignore the community in the run-up to the November 2013 election. Muslims can influence election results in around eight of 70 assembly seats in Delhi.
Mr Rasheed mentioned that nearly 25K people have been arranged for Modi’s September 29 rally in Delhi. For which his partymen have worked really hard in 14 districts. He also gave the example of June 23 Talkatora stadium rally where 15K people were roped in.
Boasting about his party’s work in the transformation of Modi’s image, Rasheed mentioned, ‘BJP has done a lot to improve Modi's image. In 11 years no riot has taken place in Modi’s tenure and Gujarat is the first state in country where rioters are being sent to jail.’
Reactions on sting:
Kamaal R Khan tweets: 'NewsNation is showing that BJP paid to ppl to attend Modi's rally in Delhi. Hahahaha Narayan Narayan.'
Kamaal Rashid Khan is an Indian film actor, producer and writer based in Dubai.cing participants to come to rallies is an ongoing issue in India's political sphere
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