Lucknow: Congress-backed independent candidate from Lucknow Ram Jethmalani today (May 2, 2004) accused Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of "exerting influence" on media houses to "black out" his statements against him.

"Vajpayee is afraid of facing the truth and wants to suppress it," Jethmalani said at a press conference.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Noted film personality Mahesh Bhatt, who was also present, made a similar charge against Vajpayee saying newspapers and TV channels were not airing the views expressed by Jethmalani.

"The fear of losing power has resulted in imposition of press censorship," Bhatt alleged.

Jethmalani said his differences with the Prime Minister had begun on the issue of Tehelka when he asked Vajpayee to scrap the Tehelka Commission.

He alleged that some of the leading media houses were "biased" against Opposition parties in their reporting and were not giving him space.