Bribes for scribes at Sonia rally

Author: Vitusha Oberoi
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: December 9, 2002
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/news/nation/2002/december/38446.htm

Every Tom, Dick, Harry and I too were given Rs 400 to cover Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s rally here on Sunday. Four crisp Rs 100 bills were packed inside each white envelope handed to reporters along with the regular publicity material of the Congress, a writing pad and a pen.

We had finished lunch at the Shanku Water Park, some 70 km from Mehsana, and waited for our
security passes, which Congress poll managers issued under the shade of a huge tree.

“Do take it. It is the tradition here,’’ said a fellow reporter as I pulled out the money and stared in amazement. Of the some 100-odd reporters, all senior political correspondents, only a handful returned the money to the unabashed organisers.

“We were thinking of giving you gifts, but did not have time, so we decided to hand over the money instead,’’ said one Prem Shanker Ozha, clad in a pristine white kurta-pyjama and black waistcoat.

Ozha, a Surti, was obviously one of the cash cows for the Congress’s campaign funds. He thanked me courteously as I handed the money back to him. Peering over his dark sunglasses, he said, “This is a tradition here. After every press conference, we give money like this.’’

Money power is most important, especially as the two parties woo the media. The lowly sum of Rs 400 is believed to be for the Toms, Dicks and Harries of the profession. Far bigger amounts are believed to be changing hands between newshounds and the politicos.

The rally was attended by a 20,000-strong crowd that waited over three hours in scorching heat to hear Gandhi speak. As her helicopter appeared in the sky, the crowd went into raptures. The Congress president picked up issues closest to the heart of Gujaratis, such as water scarcity, electricity shortage and the various alleged scams of the BJP government.

Taking a potshot at Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who extolled Gujarat’s development in his Saturday speech, Gandhi said: ``Today, the condition of Gujarat is not hidden from anyone. Despite all this, I have heard that the prime minister is very satisfied with the development of the state.’’