Rahul Gandhi’s 30-minute chat with ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on a video call has made the former Congress president look better than any interview or press conference he has ever done.
He would do well to engage in many more such interactions on video call chats and put them out for public consumption. He could have such chats with Congress chief ministers and workers, with experts around the country and the world. This format suits Rahul Gandhi for many reasons. For one, it is not designed to make him face tough questions.
Raghuram Rajan is not going to make Rahul Gandhi look bad. That’s not his job. He’s not a journalist. And Rahul Gandhi is not on test to prove himself. For once, Rahul Gandhi is asking questions, thereby acknowledging he doesn’t have all the answers. This makes him look humble, especially in contrast to Modi who projects himself as the man with all the answers.
Raghuram Rajan is a talented Indian economist Prime Minister Modi shunned. And Rahul Gandhi is asking him, how much money will it take to help the poor? Rs 65,000 crore, says Rajan, and it’s doable. Such a conversation is far more effective opposition politics than what Rahul Gandhi has been doing so far.
Brand Rahul Gandhi has been so down and out that even if he says something wise it does not carry much weight. But today, the headline is that Raghuram Rajan tells Rahul Gandhi the poor need Rs 65,000-crore package. Now if Rahul Gandhi starts to persist with this demand from the Modi government, it will carry weight.
Also read: If Uddhav Thackeray bows before Arnab Goswami’s dare, he will only weaken himself before BJP
Controlling the narrative
Right-wingers on social media are quick to make jokes out of anything Rahul Gandhi does. Today, all they can point at is the clock on the wall behind Raghuram Rajan. The clock, they claim, shows the conversation lasted over an hour. But only 28 minutes have been put out. In other words, there’s been editing and possibly re-takes. That’s great, it shows Rahul Gandhi is learning from Modi.
Scripted events, produced like TV serials or films, is how Modi likes to communicate with the people. And not through press conferences.
Modi does give interviews once in a while, which often appear scripted, not least because the journalists interviewing him are so obsequious one feels embarrassed for a section of media. Largely, Modi likes to stick to scripted events to communicate “directly” with the people, wherein he decides what he speaks.
Modi is a politician with decades of experience and can certainly handle any question the media throws at him. One might recall the aggressive The Indian Express interview he gave just before the Lok Sabha election in 2019, an opportunity he used to lash out at liberals.
Modi doesn’t like surprises in interviews because he wants to be able to control the narrative coming out of the interview. It’s the headline he is bothered about. Is this really the headline he wants to make?
When you let someone ask any question they want, they may not ask you the questions that show you in a good light. Indeed, a good journalist won’t ask Modi how you work so many hours a day. A good journalist allowed to ask Modi anything will want to know why his government allowed the export of Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers till 19 February when the coronavirus pandemic was rearing its head.
The infamous Karan Thapar interview of 2007 shows this clearly. Modi walked out when Thapar was virtually forcing him to express regrets for the 2002 Gujarat riots — or clearly say he doesn’t want to express regret. Thapar could have asked him anything about Gujarat’s development after that but the headline would have been ‘Modi refuses to regret 2002’. By 2007 Modi wanted to pretend 2002 never happened. He had already moved on to projecting himself as a development messiah.
Also read: Raghuram Rajan bats for quick reopening of economy, says India can’t support poor for long
A lesson Rahul didn’t learn in 2014
Modi’s walking out of the interview with Karan Thapar has clearly had an impact on how he perceives the media. It has meant that Modi doesn’t put himself in a situation where he could be grilled by a journalist. So either it’s one-way communication (social media, scripted interviews, speeches and events) or through interviews where he knows the questions beforehand or at any rate, knows the journalist won’t ask tough questions.
Rahul Gandhi also had a defining bad interview moment. The questions Arnab Goswami asked him in 2014 weren’t that tough, but Rahul Gandhi came across poorly. At one point Rahul Gandhi complained, “We have had a 1-hour conversation here, you haven’t asked me 1 question about how we are going to build this country, how we are going to take this country forward, you haven’t asked me one question on how we are going to empower our people, you haven’t asked me one question on what we are going to do for youngsters, you are not interested in that.”
Just like Modi, Rahul wanted to control the narrative. In both cases, two very different politicians had the same concern: can we talk about what I want to talk about?
An interview is by definition a situation in which the interviewer decides what questions will be asked. The interviewee is on test. This makes it a very powerful thing for a journalist to be allowed to interview a top politician. Someone like Modi can’t give someone else such power over himself.
Modi learnt his lesson and stopped putting himself in such situations. But Rahul Gandhi has kept repeating the mistake. He does press conferences and interviews where he isn’t able to set the agenda he would like, ends up making gaffes, and the BJP quickly cuts short videos, often out of context, to show him in poor light.
“I have no problem in giving TV interviews,” Gandhi told Ravish Kumar of NDTV in an interview in 2019, “The worst thing that can happen is I will make mistakes but it’s human to make mistakes,” he said.
Sure, but then don’t complain if people judge you for the mistakes and don’t vote for you. Truth is, making mistakes in an interview is not ok. That’s the sort of thing that turns elections.
Also read: ‘Ek Congress neta’ — Why Narendra Modi never addresses Rahul Gandhi by name
Poor optics overshadow good content
Recently, Rahul Gandhi did a Zoom press conference on the Covid-19 crisis. He said all the right things. He was consciously making a shift in his tone from the angry young man always out to bring Modi down. He now wanted to be the mature opposition leader doing constructive criticism. This was a step in the right direction. He also said all the right things: lockdown is but a pause, where’s the testing, where’s the PPE, look at the suffering of migrant labourers, and so on.
But as usual, the optics became the focus: Rahul Gandhi trying to figure out Zoom, repeating the word strategic again and again, the poor lighting, and so on. Once again, the optics tend to overshadow the content. You may not necessarily get this impression from watching the 9 o’ clock news or reading the newspapers, but the site of image-making and destroying of politicians today is social media, from WhatsApp to TikTok.
That’s why Rahul Gandhi needs the power of scripted video, following in the footsteps of Modi. They can help you edit out those very human mistakes and look like a leader.
The author is contributing editor to ThePrint. Views are personal.
We are no longer dependent on the left of centre journalists to give us objective analysis. Social media and Google have liberated the Indian reader from the captive grip of those big names in journalism who were more sympathetic to the Congress.
The above article by Shivam Vij too confuses the need to ask searching and critical questions in good faith which a journalist is expected to do – from bad faith questions based on pre-judging the issue.
I have seen the Karan Thapar interview and his superciliousness and prejudice is what I can recollect clearly. We don’t need such journalism. Thank you.
But Rahul Gandhi’s scripted interview of Raghuram Rajan with 90 minutes of video, edited and cleaned of the usual gaffes, is not so bad. It’s irritating to keep hearing over and over again, a new word like ‘strategic’, recently learnt by Rahul Gandhi. It’s better he scripts his interviews.
It will be enough if RG sings “Twinkle Twinkle little star ” . All of india knows his level of intellect and instinct for sloganeering like “Chowkidaar …………..” Can L.KG. student understand MACRO ECONOMICS OR ECONOMICS OF GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT . Let him develop his low I.Q. / E.Q for two three decades . Then he will be a best person to be to lead “We the miserable Indian s.” who do not have capacity to produce person to adorn the office of PM of India as this is destined to be monopoly of a dynast family based in New Delhi only.
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Oh God save my country from sycophants journalists.
Things ‘MAY” change for Rahul Gandhi only if he and his family first perish their obsession that Modi has usurped their Family’s legitimate and divinely ordained post of the PM of India, and has ‘somehow’ sneaked in when they were not looking. Moreover, they should also abandon the conviction that “Lutyens’ Delhi is THEIR fiefdom and Modi is an interloper and an outsider. They should open their eyes to the FACT that Modi has won a clear election, TWICE, beating Congress to pulp, in the process. But this is fanciful thinking. They can never change.
This article is a joke right !!!?? I mean how biased can your page be ?? You’re basically trying to whitewash this idiot and everything he says or does by again blaming modi. Like most of it wasn’t his own fault !?
He is looking good because of highly edited nature of the video released. If you guys can see the clock at the back of raghu ram rajan you can see that the total length of the call was about 90 mins. Now could have said the same about Rahul Gandhi had the video released would had been a unedited. But due to the high nature of editing we can cannot say this and he is certainly not worthy of this article. However what we can do is let the video released to cine award their they might have some chance of winning any medal or something.
What’s the point talking about Pappu.
Yes it looks only as a Dynast Author view which you should keep with himself. Instead of briefing about meeting with Rajan he is more concern trying to project Pahul as Great leader but forget Pappu will be a Pappu unless he stop doing politics and do some genuine support to people(Indians) & not fr sme other countries by being neutral and behaving like a True secular not a typical Indian Siculars gang.
Never seen such bootlicking article trying relaunch the failed Gandhi again ..People like you still hing up on 2002 even if SC has cleared him..what a pathetic piece of journalism
Desperateness, Sivam need ?burnol?
nice article
,न आपको आलोचना पसंद है ,और न ही कड़वे उत्तर,कारण आपकी रागदरबारी मानसिकता।
राहुल रेजिंग। आज कल। बहुत चारण भाट। इस काम। में। लगे हैं । मुफ्त तो कुछ होता नहीं,लाकडाऊन में वैसे भी सबका धंधा मंदा चल रहा है , विज्ञापन नहीं तो किसी की प्रसऺसा कर कुछ अर्थ लाभ होता है तो क्या बुरा। पापी पेट का सवाल है।
The author is very desperate to fool the people of India, with fool like Vinci. All the best. Vinci should take up a job as a clerk and work for a while. Then only he will understand what is india. We don’t want a Dumbo as PM and project India in a bad light. I’m sure he will not be anything in next 15 years. Jai hind
Shivam vij , we thought the article you scripted was about making rahul Gandhi look good. Or, if nothing, advise him on how to look good.
But your blinkered mind rattles on about Modi even while you are focused on making a clumsy horse gallop.
Tch. Tch.
The print is funded by Rahul da Vinci.Obhious, you will support him but not majority of Indian.
Ra Ga is still under the tutelage of his Jeeves. By the time he learns the trick of the trade of politics, his party may be extinct
Oh Mr. VIJ, this composition screams loudly about you, your loyalties, your intense dislikes and your agenda rather than a purported unsolicited advice to the Crown Prince .
Another assumption of yours that RG is still in the learning phase of the art of public communications, by experimenting with different formats, to catch up with Modi, is rather insulting !
Mr Vij, the voting public is not going to be impressed with any number of scripted dialogues , on complicated technical topics , conducted in the English language in a managed setting..
They need to feel the genuineness of the person, by his/her lifestyle, personal achievements, work ethics and ability to connect with them by speaking in a vernacular dialect.
Alas, “Dilli Dooraast”
Yes he proced again as Pappu Gandhi chamcha
This site, a known Modi baiter and Congress bootlicker has left no stone unturned in proving Modi arrogant and Rahul a moderate person. It is sticking on its agenda although it gets trolled quite often. Journalism at its lowest.
It will take a lot more than this to make Rahul Gandhi look credible. Rajan at this point of time is jobless and working hard ‘ read playing to the gallery’ to make himself relevant. Wish lots of luck to both.
Control the narrative?
What is the compulsion for Rahul to be in public life in the first place? Its not his calling. Its not the narrative of his life. None of his actions speak of that. The poor guy is forced to stay in politics because of idea and ideals bankrupt congress party. All of us should leave Rahul alone and let him live his simple life like any of us.
It is this Raghuram Rajan only spoiled India’s MSME sector. People like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Mody etc got loans when he was at the helm of RBI. Why he again and again interfere in Indian economy is obvious. He is expecting favours from parties like Congress.
RG should be the PM of India. (all comedians)
RG doesn’t need the power of scripted video, he needs the power of retirement.
Once a duffer, always a duffer. Rahul should bring the money he and his family looted over the last seventy years. is that too much to ask?
Why are you spread fake narrative how can you say that
Raise the standards
Kitne pahuche congress se
Poor Shivam Vij for Rahul Kanwal , Shweta Singh,Rahul Joshi, Smita prakash are not journalists and questions like people say chowkidar chor hai, in other she called the PM a chor was not tough for a man known for personal integrity, What did Rajdeep ask Sonia Ji or Ravish ask Rahul Gandhi it was not even an interview, I bet even Shivam will be tongue tied in Mr. Modis presence , today such is his persona
He doesn’t have any single PM quality, merely having Gamdhi surname will not make any difference.
It seems Rahul have given the contract of image makeup to The Print, good job lage raho
And it is really painful to see idiots like you still believe Rahul Ghandy is a ‘leader’!
I believe there is a boundary for everything, and this is really a outrageous!
Can’t believe how you even become a journalist!
Just simply say ‘it’s not for him!’
It appears that Article is paid article sponserd by Ambani / Adani !!! Modi who don’t understand difference between optimism and pessimism,courtesy Karan Thapar, is painted superior over Rahul Gandhi !!! Godi media at it’s best !!!???!!!
You need to be Rahul Gandhi’s Press advisor. You’ll do a damn fine job for him.
You cannot put lipstick on a p*g. No matter how much you decorate RG the true color will show. The difference in class in inherently seen by everyone other than some left wing publications and authors like you who are more interested in getting Modi out than looking out for the country. There are so many great leaders in Congress e.g. Amrinder Singh in Punjab. You do not suggest at any point congress should get rid of this dynasty culture and develop party leaders based on merit, and many second tier leaders in congress have an ability to develop a vision and lead. All you want is the family come back again, establish a set-up similar indigenous version of East India company, manipulate and corrupt the institutions, plunder and loot the country and enjoy the personal riches. RG cannot even stay in the country for more than 4 weeks in a row without getting hypoxia, he has to go abroad to get some fresh air and restore sanity.
Congress with the dynasty is a race to the bottom for India. Manmohan was a great leader, but he had to function under the family control. Non-family party leaders if they are allowed have the potential to create a new and rejuvenated congress, acting like a responsible and credible party developed by with political abilities as good as or better than Prime Minister Modi. Big IF. Shed your family loyalty and public sucking up Mr. Shivam and start looking at the country and its people interests. Stop writing such silly pieces in public. You are free to advise and consult with RG in private but not in the public domain as it looks very silly of your news paper and its branding.
Just not right wingers but also common men make comments because Rahul makes a cool if himself by irrelevant quips
Wonderful article. Everyone should read. Rahul Gandhi as for to me is honest, obedient, truthful, down to earth , beyond all he is receptive… But as it is stated in article he should learn…if possible plz send this article to RaGa
First Part of the article has some sense, especially in the context of Indian journalists who are generally wooden headed. It is wise for Rahul Gandhi to avoid meaningless interviews. But the second art especially the “The interviewee is on test” is an arrogant assertion that can come only from poor and immature journalist. But interestingly the second part in a way justifies why RG should never give interviews to the gang to which this author belongs
The article is unfair…his press conferences were very effective…He should do more of everything he is doing… And he has handled the tough questions better than anyone.
You always try to justify an inexperienced, dumb person like Rahul Gandhi better. This is like as if there is nobody other than him in Congress.
You seem to have vested interest to put India down by disregarding all the very good actions of Modi.
You ask yourself, is Rahul Gandhi comparable to Modi in any respect as a personality, Politician, or a leader.
You people never want to see India progress and prosper. That is why all these false narratives.
Seems you don’t like my reply. So it is not being mailed.
Forget silly matters. One should have clear goal, dedication, boldness and patriotism to the core to run the country decisively. Modi is one of the top world leaders. Please stop comparing him with Rahul. He can never think of becoming a Modi in his life.
So after all you are holding brief of Congress.
In the court of public, he will surely lose his case.
Please do not thrust this man on India.
What injustice India has done to you?
Raghuram and Shivam are on the payroll of Congress. Can you expect anything different. When did Rahul became so humble and when Modi claimed he knows everything. At least during current crisis period the media should pur more focus on real news and views than negative narratives.
Mr. Vij, Leadership instinct doesn’t come by tutoring lk this. This is yet another session of Tutions classes series from you to Mr. Gandhi…hahahahaha
Lol, looks less of a bit about Rahul’s interview, more of an opportunity to bash PM Modi again. When will you people learn?
Sycophant Alert!
Student in K.G. classes are not taught Macro or growth economics. It is too much to burden young child s mind.
If Rahul continues with such interviews as suggested by Shivam, hopefully, the interviewees do not use to build up their image at the expense of Rahul or themselves get exposed by lack of answers to Rahul’s tough questions! Thankfully, at the end of it, Rahul did not ask Rajan to define how strategically we can plan for post corona!
Also, more such interviews means Modi can easily get to know ideas and improve, relabel them and present them as his solutions. Modi has no advisers anyway and he can steal precious ideas easily from such interviews by Rahul. Perhaps, it is also possible that people will get to know how hollow or ordinary advises from such experts are so that people start reposing their faith in decisive, firm, nationalist and pro poor delivery guy Modi.
So Shhivam, watch out before you give your ideas to Rahul!
Rahul did many good interviews and answered smartly to tough questions in 2019. But whatever he does, it is tough to face the BJP’s IT cell and lakhs of Bhakths. They will take out short clips out of context and put him on bad light. Even these live discussions will have that fate.
Stop comparing this duffer Rahul Gandhi with the Prime Minister.
Please wake up & smell the coffee – there is no comparison between the two.
Modi would be like “bro, am I your Hajmola? Why drag me in his roast?”
If Rahul ever has a future in Indian politics, he needs to be very different from Modi and not follow in his footsteps.
He should know how to handle press conferences and interviews better. Politicians need to face tough questions from the
press and the public. They should have the courage and sincerity to look in the eye and answer them. So the
Modi model should
be jettisoned forthwith.
Rahul Gandhi is an idiot. The world know it. All the conversations in the world are not going to change that.
Bhakt are still in the dream that mr modiji will do something but the reality is different they cannot believe that thier papa has made them chutiya today is in beggest economy falldown but what to do bhakts toh bhakt hai bheek manglenge magar papa ko kuch nahi bolenge akhir papa toh papa hai rahul has the courage to face questions and make mistakes and blind bhakts still in the nali gas they cannot see rahul talking about economy and talking about country because they only want hindu muslim mandir masjid jitne bhi comments karte hai 2 koidi ki aukaad nahi aur nahi koi samaj hai economy ki bas ek kisi ko badnam karna toh kaise bhi karo in jaise bhakto ki wajah se modiji aaj india ka satyanash karne me kamyab hue