Following news reports on Wednesday that Chief Minister would resign soon, and a young face would be given chance to helm the state, messages started circulating on social media threatening journalists. The messages were allegedly circulated by BJP members.The forwarded messages, making rounds via messaging apps, warned journalists to stop spreading rumours and "be in their senses".Reliable sources in the saffron party said the messages were circulated by several members of the party including Gujarat BJP Secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela, who was also the brain behind the campaign.One of the messages read: "When Narendra Modi had taken charge of Gujarat as the Chief Minister, many anti-state elements tried to spread rumours defaming BJP and state's development. Similarly, when Vijay Rupani's government is taking Gujarat ahead with sincere, decisive, humane and progressive approach, similar elements are spreading rumors about Vijay Rupani's resignation."When asked whether he was circulating such messages, Vaghela told Mirror: "Yes, like thousands of other BJP members, I too am sharing these messages on social media. We have been tolerating such attacks on our party for the past two-three years. This news (of CM Rupani resigning) is fake and we can't let any journalist publish such stories out of personal bias. It hurts the sentiments of party workers." Vaghela further said: "We have the freedom of expression and we are exercising it by circulating these messages via social media."When asked whether the messages were a threat to journalists, he said: "It is your interpretation."However, he clarified that he had nothing against the media fraternity. "All of you media professionals are like my brothers and sisters and I have high regards for you. I bear no ill will towards the fraternity," he stressed.

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