Modi: Do homework for media debates

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Narendra Modi, who is also the BJP’s election campaign committee head, asked party spokespersons and panellists to do comprehensive research on subjects before speaking to the media or participating in debates on news channels. The Gujarat chief minister, it was learnt, told the gathering that the media is influenced in a big way by the activity and opinion building on the social media through the day.
It was learnt that Mr Modi cautioned that several news channels invite experts in their debates who have leanings towards the Congress and this tilts the balance in favour of the ruling party. He said it could only be countered by in-depth research by BJP spokespersons who participate on behalf of the party in such programmes.
He also attacked the Congress for running away from answering questions on serious issues like corruption, price rise, inflation and the economic slowdown. He said the country was looking at the BJP with hope and party leaders should go to the people with the message of good governance. BJP chief Rajnath Singh also asked the party leaders not to visit a TV studio just because they have been invited even when they are not aware of the issue. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley dwelt on “do’s” and “don’ts” while handling the media and attacking political opponents.
Ms Swaraj, who inaugurated the workshop, said party leaders should exercise caution while hitting out at the Congress as “words once spoken cannot be taken back”, sources said. She also asked the party leaders to speak in one voice and maintain decorum while countering the opposition’s arguments.
In his address, Mr Jaitley expressed dissatisfaction at the manner in which BJP spokespersons had tackled the Congress’ charges against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi after his Independence Day speech. He said there was a need to take on the Congress in a more aggressive fashion. Sources said he asked the spokespersons to be better prepared to sound more convincing.