Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party state president K Annamalai, had a heated argument with journalists during a press meet held today (4 January) in Chennai.

He said that many of these journalists would not dare to ask tough questions to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) because they are surviving on the advertisements that they receive from the government through the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).

He added that a look at the DIPR's payouts (which are available publicly) would make it clear to anyone that those media houses which gave better coverage to the DMK, used to get more of the advertisements irrespective of the size of the channel or newspaper.

Citing an example, he said that while one media house got Rs 44 lakh, another got Rs 8 crore but the number of subscribers for them is similar, thus clearly showing that there is bias.

Further, he said that certain editors have told him that if they give Annamalai or the BJP coverage beyond a certain space in a newspaper or beyond seven minutes in television, officials of the DIPR would call them and tell them that government advertising allocation to their media house would be reduced.

When asked for proof, Annamalai said that he has the proof and the data can be obtained by anyone under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

When a journalist from the Times of India, said that there are rumours of a bug or a hidden camera in the Rafale watch worn by Annamalai, Annamalai took off his watch and gave it to the journalist and told him in a challenging tone, 'Keep it with you. Take it anywhere in Tamil Nadu, get it opened and checked. You will find no bug. I am ready to bear all expenses. But you must publish the news that no bug was found.'

Also Read: Annamalai Refuses To Apologise To Journalists, Calls Out DMK-Owned Media Outlets For Their Bias