Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal kicked off a fresh controversy when he alleged that the whole media is "sold" and "heavy amounts" have been paid to promote Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.

"For the last one year, we have been told that Modi is here, Modi is there. Since one year, Modi has also been saying that. Even some TV channels have been saying that 'Ram Rajya' has come and corruption has vanished...

"Why did they do it? Because money has been paid to TV channels. Heavy amounts have been paid to promote Modi," Kejriwal alleged in a video aired by a TV channel.

"Around 800 farmers have committed suicide in Gujarat in the past 10 years, but none of the channels showed it," he alleged and added that farmers have sold their land to a company for just "one rupee but even this has not been shown by any channel".

Threatening action against the media, he said, "This time, the whole media has sold itself, it is a big conspiracy. If we ever form the government, we will probe this and everybody, including media personnel, would be sent to jail."



Denies having said that

However, as the video went viral stoking a controversy, the AAP leader denied making the remarks.

"I didn't say that. I didn't say anything. How can I be upset with you (media)," he said while speaking with reporters in Nagpur.



'Committed to work within framework of Constitution'

Labelled as an "anarchist" by his critics, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has stated that his party is committed to function within the framework of Indian Constitution.

Responding to the charge of being an anarchist leading elements with diverse ideologies lacking cohesiveness, Kejriwal said in Pune, "We can have people amongst us wedded to different ideologies but we are committed to the framework of the Indian Constitution."

The former Delhi chief minister said he would not like to be bound by ideological confines and does not believe in "isms" denoting political leanings.

"I am influenced by (Mahatma) Gandhi. I follow the humanist ideology. We want to empower people and change the system which is based on political corruption," he said in an interview to a Marathi news channel telecast on Thursday.

Replying to questions, Kejriwal said he was earlier an atheist (person who does not believe in God) but had become a "believer" for the last three years as he felt that his course had been chartered by the divine will.

"I would not have imagined even in my wildest dream that I would quit my income tax job. I never thought of fighting elections. This is all God's will. There is a power that guides you," he said, adding that he believes in the Bhagwad Gita philosophy that professes doing one's ordained duty without expecting fruit of action.

"Gita is not just faith but is a science," Kejriwal said.