It’s a game of wits between a rabble-rousing TV host and a genteel chief minister. This isn’t an ordinary game. Who wins this round will have deep, longstanding repercussions on the future of the Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra.
Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami is daring the Uddhav Thackeray government: do you have the guts to take me on? This dare has to be seen in the context of the BJP’s goals in the state.
For all its alleged Chanakyaniti, the BJP was defeated in the post-election games in Maharashtra. Despite being the single largest party, and doing everything it could, including waking up the President of India at 5 am, it lost the plot to Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress. Uddhav Thackeray became chief minister.
Not having a BJP CM in any state is unacceptable to home minister Amit Shah. The humiliation of losing Maharashtra to a rag-tag post-poll coalition is worse. To be outfoxed by a nice Uddhav Thackeray, an ageing Sharad Pawar and a comatose Congress is not something Amit Shah is going to forget.
The BJP is itching to gain power back in Maharashtra. And before it can mount a coup, it has to do everything to can to weaken and delegitimise the Uddhav Thackeray government.
Arnab Goswami’s dare to Uddhav Thackeray has to be seen in this light.
Also read: No communal angle to Palghar, strict action against those fuelling hate: Uddhav Thackeray
An attack dog
Founded in 2017, the Goswami-led Republic TV was incubated by Rajiv Chandrasekhar, a Bengaluru politician and entrepreneur who was at the time associated with the BJP-led NDA coalition. He has since resigned as Republic TV director, and has been rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat and is now a member of the BJP.
Day in and day out, Republic TV, on its English and Hindi channels, acts as an attack dog of the BJP on the opposition, liberals, and just about anybody who is critical of the BJP or its majoritarian, anti-minority agenda. In other words, Republic TV is a weapon in the hands of the BJP.
To be fair, it is not the only channel to be thus deployed. There are way too many. But Republic TV is a leading light, especially given that vast amounts of money must have been poured in the distribution game to give its English Channel high TRP ratings. As various channels compete for high ratings and access to the Narendra Modi government, they keep going down the rabbit hole of peddling majoritarian hate to impress the masters in Lutyens’ Delhi.
Also read: How not to report: A lesson from Republic TV, Times Now, ABP covering Bandra migrants
Arnab, the BJP weapon
Arnab, the BJP weapon, is being used now to singularly target Uddhav Thackeray, to destabilise and delegitimise his government. The praise that Uddhav Thackeray has been winning as a balanced, serious, governance-oriented chief minister is clearly not going down well with the BJP. Bringing down Uddhav Thackeray is an important BJP project, and Arnab seems to be part of that strategy.
In allying with the NCP and the Congress, Shiv Sena has given up on anti-Muslim politics, and is limiting itself to non-violent Marathi identity politics. Creating communal tensions in Maharashtra is thus key to making life difficult for Uddhav Thackeray. It is meant to force him into taking a ‘secular’ position that weakens his position before the Shiv Sena cadres. Furthermore, the resulting Hindu-Muslim polarisation will help the BJP gain ground.
It is this desperation to communalise the political discourse in Maharashtra that the lynching of two sadhus and their driver in Palghar by a tribal mob (‘of the same faith as the attacked’) was immediately given a Hindu-Muslim angle by the formidable BJP-allied troll armies. When the salivating communal vultures were silenced by a mature video put out by Uddhav Thackeray, Arnab Goswami went in another direction: Why is Sonia Gandhi silent? What if the victim had been Muslim? Whataboutery, the favourite weapon of the Muslim-bashing hate-mongers.
Just before this, we had seen Arnab Goswami communalise the gathering of migrant labourers at Bandra railway station. He had asked: Why did they gather before the Jama Masjid of Bandra?
Also read: Uddhav Thackeray has failed to handle Covid crisis. Bring in Army to save Mumbai
Uddhav Thackeray’s Catch-22 situation
If Uddhav Thackeray goes after Arnab Goswami, it may be a victory for Arnab Goswami and the anti-Muslim at large. They can’t play victim over the death of two Sadhus (because the killers weren’t Muslim), so they’ll play victim over Arnab Goswami. The biggest enemies of free speech will suddenly start talking about press freedom.
The personalised attack on Sonia Gandhi is also a way of creating tensions between allies Shiv Sena and Congress. The Congress may want Uddhav to turn the heat on Arnab, and Arnab will thus get to play martyr. Already, he’s won round one of this game with alleged Congress hooligans chasing his car and attacking it. And he has already blamed Sonia Gandhi personally for it.
If Uddhav chooses to look the other way and let Arnab carry on with his inflammatory speeches in the name of press freedom, it will make Uddhav look weak. It will again establish the supremacy of majoritarian hate politics that the chief minister has disowned.
In politics, perception is reality. And power has its own logic regardless of anything else. If you look weak, the balance of power tilts against you. If Uddhav Thackeray doesn’t act against Arnab Goswami, he will be bowing before his dare. Arnab Goswami, the BJP and majoritarian hate politics will have won.
There are enough and more grounds to take strong legal action against Arnab: the potential breach of peace his speeches could cause; causing enmity between communities; spreading rumours that could cause panic during an epidemic. These are all violations of laws in force. And taking legal action against Arnab Goswami on these grounds would be legally valid. The spirit of the law demands so.
Also read: Indian media is waging a holy war against Muslims. It acts like hyenas
Appeasement hasn’t been working
From driving M.F. Husain out with legal harassment to summoning The Wire editor Siddharth Varadarajan to a police station in Ayodhya during a lockdown, majoritarian forces regularly use legal harassment as means to silence their critics. By contrast, liberal leaders in power rarely ever use the law against communal hate mongers. Thanks to this inequality, majoritarian hate-mongering carries on with impunity.
Arnab Goswami, for instance, seems to be pretty sure Uddhav Thackeray won’t have the guts to take legal action against him. At the most, a few FIRs and running around police stations or courts, all of which he’ll turn into a spectacle to his own advantage. In the worst-case scenario, Lutyens’ Delhi will save him.
Liberal leaders and governments have been practising a policy of appeasement before the majoritarian Right. They are afraid that taking on the monster head-on could make it bigger. But look how the monster keeps growing ever bigger despite this policy of appeasement. Majoritarian forces thrive on appeasement from the other side because the public can see the appeasement is coming from weakness, not strength.
Uddhav Thackeray needs the courage to look the monster in the eye, or be devoured by it.
The author is contributing editor to ThePrint. Views are personal.
You are right unless he is brought before law and tried for his defamatory conduct or for communal approach creating enmity between communities, Arnab will continue to do disservice to this great nation as well as to his fraternity. What kind of journalism they are following, instead of reporting for last many years journalists are being allowed to be judgemental as well as advocate of particular belief. I don’t think this is journalism as permissible under law. But who is bother? None. This implicitly give them impunity to say what they can whether their statements are defamatory or communal in nature or for that matter beyond the scope of guidelines of journalism. Perhaps, time has come to intervene and make the authorities to take action against such media houses. Rule of law must prevail otherwise anarchy will rule. Chief Minister of Maharashtra must take action against Arnab or else he will continue to embolden himself at the cost of common people.
Adv. Shakil Akhtar
Supreme Court of India
#9717214471
If someone becomes addicted to sex that person usually can not get over it.
No wonder shekhar gupta is giving print to dogs..shekhar gupta has lost his credibility long time back . and by such articles he is just confirming his diminished status and no standing .
100 % will support Arnab Sir
After death of Rohit Vemula , Rahul Gandhi Rushes his place , After death of Aklakh , RAGA rushes his place
Now when 3 innocent killed why Raga and Mm soniya keeping silent,
CM Udhav how can compare Jamiya nikita police action with Jaloyawala bagh to defame and devalue Great indian freedom fighters
Your article is 100 % pro congress , shame on u people
Stupid article and congress cover up .. .. disgusting
100 % will support Arnab Sir
After death of Rohit Vemula , Rahul Gandhi Rushes his place , After death of Aklakh , RAGA rushes his place
Now when 3 innocent killed why Raga and Mm soniya keeping silent,
CM Udhav how can compare Jamiya nikita police action with Jaloyawala bagh to defame and devalue Great indian freedom fighters
Your article is 100 % pro congress , shame on u people
Print…. Print….. Print…….. The way you write a piece of article is amazing, elaborating every way possible to expose someone. It is important to note your theme here. We the readers don’t understand the polarisation you media create. It may be for the benefit of both so called nationalist and so called liberals. I am pretty sure that both of groups so created give a damn about the country or its people. Both use these words of Liberal or nationalist for driving the economy of their own purpose.
Please Stop It ??
You media guys destroying India.
Making an website and just posting your own views is just disgusting
Hey you congress’ s attack puppy is this a standard of an article, at certain point of time i thought this is your personal issue with bjp.just to earn some money people how easily can get sorted with the third quality writing
What a funny article! This should be under the “Laughter is the best medicine” section! Is this what you Jokers call journalism? Who did you get to write this, Kunal Kamra? Go get a life.
Shame on you how can you say as a media
wing that arnab is BJP,s attack dog don’t show your biased and opportunistic journalism firstly give reply of what he said before leaving editor guild of india.
Well said sir…these are perpetrators and anti national medias supported by Cristian and Islam medias from outside countries.shame on them
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.
Aldous Huxley
Here is what will happen…
Study will be done about Aranab, Sambit Patra and Mr. Deodhar’s hate speech. File will be prepared and leaked to Centre. Compromise will happen at Governor’s residence. Udhav Thakrey will remain CM and small actions will be taken on Arnab only.
It’s a self goal by Gobarswami and Foolish Patra.
Print stop printing,,, arnab said no wrong… Atleast someone is daring?? Raajmata has ruled this country like nothing shit… Everyone knows….
We Hindus are uniting now which is becoming problem for everyone..
Including Liberal media like u….
Ha ha, Now this lefty is firing from the shoulder of Uddhav.
Uddhav has become a genteel person as he is serving cause of moribund congress and thoroughly defeated NCP.
Shivam’s heart is overflowing for these three usurpers of public mandate.
Tum ko mirchi lagi to main kya karoo.
Great..A congress and left aligned media house is accusing a BJP aligned media house . All of you are 2 sides of the same coin
This fellow is again prestitutes , like wise others who bark always against Hinduism through their deceptive articles, but their plan not going to work henceforth. Why don’t you cry same way for kashmiri pandits, when there were genocide against them, they were also lynched , bloody hypocrite…. Will you dare to write for them, against Muslims, selective journalism.. Bloody shit.
It is BJP who should be ashamed how long will they shed crocodile tears for Kashmiri pandits as a matter of fact it was their scripting.During the mayhem it was V.P.Singhs Govt. supported outside by BJP, Mufti was Home Minister, Jagmohan was Governor. See the irony BJP joined hands with Mehbooba daughter of Mufti to form Govt. height of fake nationalism.
Shivam viz & shekhar Gupta, mad dogs of the corrupt spineless Congress party who have looted India for decades and the bastardish evil leftists who are always against Hinduism. But be warned that you will never ever succeed in your nefarious designs. The nation is solidly behind BJP for it alone can make India strong. Keep it up Arnab you are a hero. Tumhara koi bal bi baaka nahi kar sakta. Let these mad dogs bark. This Shivam viz n Gupta,
you third class morons, may you die a terrible death for your sins along with a third rate useless newspaper called Print.
Wasted So much time reading this ?.
Ridiculous u r the attack dog of so called liberals.. you are being paid back in your own currency.. Arnab has guts.. you don’t have
Rightly analysed. Arnab should be punish for spreading communal flames.
Well at least I now know to not read bullshit articles like this in the future.
If Arnab is the attack dog here, then Udhhav Thackeray will soon be licking his heels.
Big question should be identifying source of such videos, news. Noticeably this kind news and rumour surfaced whevever there is any incidents are happenings. Unfortunately it has been a fashion now-a-days to give every incidents a communal color. No government nor anyone should support any such incidents and culprits should be punished. On the other hand it is also important to find the AI source of such rumour.
Bravo – Great Congress tail-wagger Sekhar Gupta and his journalistic dwarfs.
Should we take the author seriously? BJP is not the primary political party on Maharashtra? Shiv sena did not win seats because of alliance with BJP? Uddhav is going to beat BJP so Arnab is in picture? Arnab is the culprit playing victim card after Congress goons attack him?
Once you call yourself a ” journalist ” you will write anything and people should agree with you. Wah, what are you smoking now a days.
Congress should use their trolls to play a video of Arnab’s scripted interview with Modi on loop. TikTok style. That is the most of a response he deserves from anybody that is even remotely sane. Ignoring him should make him small and miserable.
The Print , pls do journalism, it’s clear that you are supporting hooligans is youth Congress Mind it Arnab is a fighter and will stand stronger after this.
Agree.. action must be taken.. but Uddhav must be careful in not making it into a religious issue, like the Bharat Jalao Party is trying to do.
It’s a fine line.. but if he does manage up walk it, it will be a big blow for the BJP lapdogs who are trying to divert attention from the fact that Modi is turning out to be the original Pappu due to Corona Virus mismanagement!
Sold media like print , scroll , ndtv is shame for india …it’s 21 st century ..u can’t get away with one sided journalism…ur rotten media house won’t last long … enjoy your last days u anti national communists
So now Udhav has become darling of the print. Anyone who opposes BJP will do as all the people gathered with Print are those whose bread and butter snatched by bjp. Very derogatory article abusing one of their own fraternity speaks to what length they can go for moolah. And it shows their frustration in getting booted out systematically by the general public. Why so much hatred if Arnab has become darling of millions?
I really do not how to tell you this. No one gives a rats ass of Arnab Goswami in normal times and more so in these covid 19 times. The pompous horses ass can keep on blabbering, benign neglect is the best with him.
I am sure you will not publish this comment. but at least show it to shivam vij.
this article is as motivated as arnab’s shows. arnab swings to one side and shivam vij swings to the other side. there is no difference between them because both lack objectivity. but at least arnab has a huge following now.
shivam vij is young and if he wants to really make name for himself as mr.shekar gupta he needs to be neutral and not carried away by his emotions.
he looks obviously anti modi and therefore he is losing his objectivity. this is a moment of reckoning for him. if he does not indulge in self introspection he will be thrown to the dust bin.
Totally biased article…only 2 to 3 channels are depicting reality. Rest all are totally against the BJP not reporting facts.
Why the print is soo much interested in other newspaper editor.? Its like u urself is questioning the freedom of speech. If she calls narendra modi a chai wala, a maut ka saudagar then it is fine.. but if someone pin points her..tu y so much of issue? Kichaad dusro pe fekoge tu khud ke haath bhi gande honge.. aur koi tum par nai fekega .. ye soch kar chup chutiye baith te hai…
If Shekhar Guptan can support Pakistan and ISIS, then Arnab can definitely support patriots.
Rajiv is a MP well before starting republic tv and this reporting shows how biased you are.
Uddhav should stand firm against the forces trying to destabilize the the Uddhav government ,don’t hesitate to take action against people who create hatred and communalising the situation whoever of how powerful he maybe arrest him out behind bars people’s with you
i can understand purpose of this article.
boss is alway right???
Below is from wiki
“Shekhar Gupta has received assorted awards: the 1985 Inlaks award for young journalist of the year,[8] G. K. Reddy Award for Journalism,[9] and the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for Nation.[10] He was awarded Padma Bhushan by the then UPA Government in 2009 for his contribution to journalism.[11]
Under his leadership, The Indian Express won the Vienna-based International Press Institute’s Award for Outstanding Journalism in the Public Interest thrice: The first time for its coverage of the Gujarat riots of 2002, the second time for uncovering the Bihar flood relief scam in 2009 and the third time for its sustained investigation into the Malegaon and Modasa blasts of 2008 and the alleged role of extremists and organisations.[12]”
The writer of this article is a barking Bulldog on behalf of Wadra and Sonia..Rahul ki toh ginti hai hi Nahi aur Priyanka toh…Choodon Jane do.
Mr Congress barking Dog…Ayenge toh Modi hi aur Amit Shah hi .
People of India well known about media and there tilented report’s and ulterior motives of Arnab Goswami he is no matches with Hon,ble Udhav Thakre.
Journalist who is independent of politics shouldn’t write such articles which clearly shows the intention. Give the facts and let people to conclude. Don’t force your opinion on your readers.
It’s really shocking that you people are news reporter blaming other news reporter as agent of bjp.what kind of people you are.
I feel it may be right too….but one thing is for sure even NDTV CNN have worked hand in hand with congress. So if this true also..then too justified…if u r in rome do what romans do…same way if u r in politics do what others do…because without power even this cannot be changed so fast.
You should write some fictional conspiracy teleseries for star plus. Arman is known what he is what about you admitting about yourself, which we all know
It seems the author of the article is biased and doesn’t accept the fact that that Shivsena is broken due to dagabaj leader Uddhav and his trusted Sanjay. Most sena workers have started quit the party and joining BJP. As of today the CM is trapped between the so called secular congress leader and the Hindutva .He seems to be a moving dead body .The article is prococative of hatred within the society. The author has nor the necessary experience not the natural capacity to stay on firmed ground. Only abusive language is a charactor of the article. No point of any argument can sustain in debate and on lawful cross-examination it would turn to be an absurd .
Man are u high while writing this? I mean seriously. What has Uddhav got to do with this. You are asking him to arrest Arnab for what. Is he a criminal? Does filing FIR on someone makes him criminal. Get some sense. Do u seriously think Debating on TV makes him criminal? If Arnab is BJP mouthpiece, what the hell r u?
Figment of imagination .
As we can see in the comments – sanghi terrorists are already rattled.
This means its a good idea Shivam has expressed.
Go for it Udhav.
Fake news reporters, share their frustrations in the form of opinion.
Spineless shekhar gupta.
Foot licking stooge
What is more important for India? Everything is a two way traffic….. respect, love, affection, tolerance…..Let us not be hypocritical…and see a positive in matters….can this incident, if handled properly kill forever some misconceptions?
With so many “experts’ I hope this is taken to a beneficial conclusion. I hope we all realize this a democracy…
Also….inflammatory need not always be loud…….soft language (say the sunrays through a magnifying glass) can also stoke fires!!!!
The Print could easily be described as the official mouthpiece of the Vadra Congress Party, the single most corrupt, self-serving and gluttonous entity that has been gnawing away at the innards of our country since independence. This Shivam Vij stooge has proved himself to be one of the faithful canines of this Vadra Congress Party, and both he and the rag he writes for, The Print, should be consigned to the nearest dustbin.
Irony is that the attack dog of Congress, The Print is talking about other media houses. Funny. Get some life