New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India has slammed the BJP’s information technology head Amit Malviya for conducting a “McCarthyist social media poll” on noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.
On 27 December, Malviya ran a Twitter poll asking if Sardesai should handle public relations (PR) for terror group ISIS.
Rajdeep Sardesai should handle PR for ISIS.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 27, 2019
Taking note of the poll, The Editors Guild termed it a “deplorable act”.
“The Editors Guild of India has noted with deep dismay and concern the deplorable act of Amit Malviya, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Information Technology cell, in which he conducted an offensive, McCarthyist social media ‘poll’ on noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai,” said the Guild, of which Sardesai is a former president.
It added: “The poll on Twitter was not only tasteless, it also questioned the integrity and patriotism of Mr Sardesai, who is a journalist of standing and a former President of the Editors Guild of India.”
The Guild said the poll raises questions on the BJP’s commitment to free speech and urged the party to reprimand Malviya.
“The Twitter poll by a national head of the BJP also raises questions on the party’s commitment to healthy debate and dissent without allowing disagreement to degenerate into abuse,” the Guild said. “The Guild urges Mr Malviya to immediately withdraw the so-called Twitter poll, and the BJP to caution him strongly.”
The controversial tweet
Malviya’s Sardesai poll gave users four options — agree, strongly agree, disagree, he is irrelevant.
It immediately drew a response from the journalist, who termed it “incendiary and slanderous”.
My friend, carry on with this brazenly slanderous and incendiary campaign. My new year resolution is to stay calm! Have a peaceful and happy new year.. may spirit of India shine bright!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) December 27, 2019
The poll also drew flak on social media. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted that “this kind of exercise is a disgrace coming from the spokesman of a supposedly national party”.
This kind of exercise is a disgrace coming from the spokesman of a supposedly national party. But the nation has realised they are the foremost anti-national party. Incapable of appreciating anyone but yes-men. https://t.co/SyJB6BC3C6
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 27, 2019
Malviya, however, has refused to back down. He tweeted again later in the day, responding to a Sardesai tweet on the Citizenship Amendment Act protests, again making the PR reference.
When one sees imaginary tricolors and pictures of Mahatma in protests cheered and led by Islamist slogans, leading to violence, destruction of public property & Temples, then they must be called out for their bigotry.
Are these people willfully blind or have their PR glasses on? https://t.co/zJswVjpJBE pic.twitter.com/TnEs2QpMVv
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 27, 2019
Also read: Editors Guild condemns police ‘brutality against journalists’ covering CAA protests