Daijiworld Media Network – Dharwad (VA)
Dharwad, May 16: Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik has agreed that he accepted Rs 5,000 from the journalists of a private TV channel who conducted a sting operation on him.
However, he said the journalist voluntarily gave him the cash, saying it was a donation for his services for the Hindu religion. He was speaking to a private news channel here on Saturday May 15.
Mutalik accused the media of trying to influence the judiciary and the government by showing him in poor light. He said he will lodge complaints against TV channels of six different states which are showing the clippings of the sting operation.
In a sting operation conducted by a TV channel, Mutalik was caught accepting money from an undercover reporter who posed as an artist. After handing over Rs 10,000 as a token to the cause of Hindutva, the journalist discusses a proposal that would make him famous like painter M F Husain. The sting operation exposes how Mutalik and his men are willing to incite a riot for money. The TV footage also shows Mutalik's aide Prasad Attavar in Bellary jail meeting the journalist to strike a deal.
In Belgaum, Mutalik had described it as a systematic conspiracy of Congress to suppress Hindu outfits and defame Sene. According to him, the clippings shown on channels were manipulated. He had urged the government to hand over the case to CBI. "Hang me if I'm guilty," he had said.
About sting operation, he said a man named Pushp Sharma (the reporter) first met him in Bangalore. He spoke about organizing a painting exhibiting on 'Love Jihad' and donated Rs 5,000 to Sene for which he was given a receipt. Pushp met him again in Belgaum. "But I didn't talk about money at any stage. I also had told him that Sene does not work for money. But that statement has not been included in the clippings that have been telecast," Mutalik said.
The government had decided to investigate and take action after Mutalik was caught on camera accepting cash to organize riots. Home minister V S Acharya had informed that they have asked for the certified copies of the CDs which will be scanned and investigated.
Condemning the media trial, he said, “My followers will hold protests in every district for three days from tomorrow. I will continue to fight and come clean”. About 70-80 cases were filed against me. But I’m not convicted, he added.