A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Rajasthan has stoked a controversy by reportedly claiming in a public function that she had offered “envelopes”, purportedly containing cash, to local journalists during election which were accepted by all but three who returned them.
A video of the public function purportedly showed Shimla Bawri, BJP MLA from Anupgarh, in Sriganganagar district, making the controversial statement on July 18. It went viral on social networking sites.
The MLA has, however, said that she did not claim such things and that the video was doctored.
In the video, Bawri is seen claiming that she, during the Assembly election campaign, offered envelopes to local journalists in Ravla, Ghadsana and Anupgarh but three scribes of Anupgarh returned the envelops saying they would take it only if she got elected as the MLA.
Here’s the video:
She, suggestively, asked the journalists to understand the value of their profession.
The MLA was speaking at her felicitation programme held in Anupgarh on July 18.
Opposing the statement, local journalists submitted a memorandum, addressed to the chief minister and the Election Commission, to the district collector and sought action against the MLA.