Rahul appeals journalists to be fearless

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday appealed to journalists to guard the truth without "fear", like the Army protects the border.

He was addressing a public meeting here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress chief alleged that Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Mehul Choksi had deposited money in a minister's bank account.

"We showed it to the reporters, but they were scared (to report it)...They are scared. Look they are laughing," he said while looking at a journalist sitting close to the stage.

"They are saying that brother (Gandhi) you are speaking the truth but we are scared what will happen (if we write the truth)," Gandhi claimed.

He alleged that a woman was tutored by the BJP at a meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poll-bound Chhattisgarh.

When contacted, senior BJP leader Hitesh Bajpai said Gandhi was suffering from a "political paranoid syndrome".

Gandhi alleged, "The woman was told that officers and the prime minister had come from Delhi and that she would be asked questions. They told her that she has to say that her income has doubled. The PM came and a television show started."