How much did Modi pay you, Somnath Bharti asks media

But is forced to apologise after party chief steps in and criticises him

Controversies are haunting Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti as he landed up in soup again today. Bharti accused media of accepting money from Narendra Modi to write news reports against the party. However, he was compelled to apologise after the party chief stepped in and criticised his words.

"They are trying to defame me, I am going to take them to the court", Bharti said not mentioning who he referred to.

Further, as he was questioned on whether he would tender his resignation to the party, he reverted back in anger saying, “How much money have you received from Modi?"

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Bharti's remarks towards the media were wrong. "Whatever he said is not correct. A lot of media persons had gathered around his car at that time during which he had said this," said Kejriwal.

Other party leaders were also in splits over his comment terming it as something “stupid.”

“This is stupid…You will become a Mayawati or a Mamata (Banerjee) if you blame the media like this”, said one of the party leaders.

The party leader said that if Bharti behaves like this, media will turn against him. "We have conveyed him that we are not satisfied with his language and he should work on that," said a party member.

Bharti apologised saying that his words were taken in a wrong manner. "I did not mean to say what has been projected. I apologize to the ones who were hurt with the statement and I withdraw my accusation," said the law minister.

Bharti came under the scanner on Friday when he did not turn up to summon by the Delhi Commission of Women. The law minister had sent his lawyer to represent him as he had prior appointments.

Bharti was summoned by the DWC on allegations that he led a mob who misbehaved with a few African women alleging a drug and prostitution ring in South Delhi last week.

Bharti's strong statement against opposition leaders was also condemned by the party a few days back.

"I want to spit at the faces of BJP leader Arun Jaitley and senior lawyer Harish Salve to tell them to mend their ways”, Bharti had said reacting to criticism by the opposition parties.