New Delhi: Prime time news Thursday night was preoccupied with the past. On Republic TV, Arnab Goswami recalled the Emergency, imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, on its 45th anniversary — and demanded an apology from the Congress.
Many Hindi channels were also focused on the Gandhi family: BJP’s accusations that Congress President Sonia Gandhi took money from the Chinese government for the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in 2005, made them very self-righteous.
There was little by way of updates on the present although NDTV 24×7 did focus on the coronavirus pandemic — yes that.
‘#Apologisefor75’ on Republic TV, was an absolute mess with Goswami playing more coach than anchor — by making arbitrary decisions on who should speak on the show and when.
He began with by debating whether he should involve lawyer Harish Salve in the debate, but then decided against it.
He then let economist Rama Goyal speak because according to Goswami, she had been “sufficiently provoked”.
“Even though Indira Gandhi called the elections, the Emergency wasn’t revoked,” said Goyal.
It seemed like she wanted to add more, but Goswami interrupted with a new line of attack— “The issues was not only Indira Gandhi, but also Sanjay Gandhi”.
Next, he roped in journalist Prem Shankar Jha hoping for more support but when Jha began contradicting him, Goswami said, “Sir, please”.
To which Jha remarked, “One second, I have not spoken a single sentence.” Oops.
The cacophony continued on ABP News, where anchor Rubika Liyaquat discussed BJP’s allegations that the Congress received funds from China.
Among the donors list of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation annual report in 2005-06 clearly shows that it has received a donation from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
We want to know why this donation was taken ? pic.twitter.com/Xe3ynHnjAx
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 25, 2020
Her question of the hour was — “Kyun liya Congress ne China se donation? Rishta kya hai China se? (Why did Congress take donations from China? What are your ties with China?).”
From the Congress corner, Rajiv Tyagi refused to answer her questions and posed a counter question — “Yeh batao, China seema me kaise ghussa? China ne 20 sainik kaise shaheed kar diye? BJP subeh-sham jhooth bol ne ke elawa ek aur kam karte hain– Congress ko gheroa. (Tell me how did China enter Indian borders? How did China kill 20 Indian soldiers? BJP knows how to lie day & night, apart from that it only questions Congress).”
But Liyaquat was relentless in her pursuit of Congress: “Donation mili the ki nahi, aap ye batane ke liye tayyar he ki nahi? (Did you get a donation or not? Are you ready to answer this question or not?)
Tyagi did not answer the questions.
News 18 India, too, discussed the same topic. Anchor Amish Devgan started the show by questioning Congress’ Supriya Shrinate, “JP Nadda ka all attack out Congress ke upar, your first reaction to this?” (What’s your first reaction to J.P. Nadda’s all-out attack on Congress)
Shrinate, in turn, questioned BJP over the satellite images of the Galwan valley.
The debate soon turned into Devgan questioning Shrinate over Congress taking donations and Shrinate questioning BJP over the satellite images.
“JP Nadda keh rahe he, Amit Malviya BJP ke IT cell head, jo ki itne responsible he, wo tweet kar rahe hai, Ravi Shankar Prasad ne bola press conference mein ki Congress party ko ghoos mili (JP Nadda is saying, Amit Malviya of BJP IT cell, who is such a responsible man, he has also tweeted, Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that Congress has taken bribes from China),” said Devgan.
Shrinate, for her part, just couldn’t digest Devgan’s compliments to Malviya– “Amish Devgan shabdon ka chalan bilkul izzat se karyega ( Amish Devgan use words with respect), Aap Amit Malviya ko responsible aadmi mante hain, mein unko fake news ka sargana manti hoon (I consider Amit Malviya head of fake news).”
Moving onto lower volumes, Sreenivasan Jain on NDTV 24×7’s #RealityCheck debated “Covid care price caps: Populism or practical?”
In the past few days, several state governments have capped the price of Covid-19 treatment, in response to reports that private hospitals were charging an exorbitant amount for treatment.
Jain asked, “Is it possible to provide the quality of treatment you were giving earlier now with the price caps?”
Dr Vivek Nangia, Principal Director, Respiratory and Critical Care, Max Hospital said, “Capping the price right now is tantamount to demonising private healthcare.”
Nangia underscored that now was the time to support both private and public healthcare.
Irrelevant
First let Modi apologize for Godhra
First let the BJP and Modi apologize for Godhra
Everybody treats Arnab like dirt. Arnab barked so much and begged Sonia Gandhi ji to apologize for Palghar murders but she didn’t even bother to acknowledge him. So, now what makes his lapdog think that Congress shall apologize for 1975’s emergency if he barks again? I hope Arnab doggy lands in jail soon.
Hey, stop the jumping up and down, no need to get excited, okay. You are right she did not answer with a direct salvo like Arnab does, but she did tell her minions to answer, which they did by slapping 101 plus cases against Arnab Goswami in courts countrywide. ASrnab got the woman to respond and she did it in the meanest manner possible.
worst phase of indian journalism
arnab also wanted editors’ guild to condemn the harassment of journalists in calcutta who have now got a stay from the supreme court. is editors’ guild listening?
surprisingly there is not even a mention about it in the print!!!! reasons obvious?
Over the last few years the many prominent faces visible every night have disappeared.
The biggest drain is on NDTV: Vikram Chandra, Barkha Dutt and now Nidhi Radhan,
The others are: Karan Thapar, Sagarika Ghosh, and now Bhupen Choube.
Do not know how long the likes of Vasu, Rajdeep, Serra, and the likes defending the indefensible will last.
Pathological likes and dislikes are not desirable for a lasting stint
Very rightly said. ??
Am sick of the fact that the present govt doesn’t talk of present issues but constantly goes to the past. All the media channels also does the same. Why can’t we have a forceful discussion on present issues like the robbing going on thru petrol, present China issues, economy, unemployment etc.
Congress party was punished by the voters of the country. How many times some one to be punished every then and now for the act committed by the earlier generation more than four decades ago.
Nadda, Ravishankar prasad etc. has alleged the donation from Chinese Communist Party to Rajeev Gandhi Foundation was a bribe to increase the trade with China. If we accept that than what bribe is given to this Government or in any fund due to which the trade deficit between China and India has grown many times since 2014 and presently it is about $50 Billion in favor of China over India in Import/Export trade between two companies.
Right
If is very enlightening that how channels are behaving. Spomcered channels are in cover up
BJP failures by digging past. Who is interested in the past when the present and future is grim? When CoVid and China are killing our people, godhi media channel are crediting BJP. Congrass took money from CPV, BJP gave Galwan valley to China!
Diverting attention
Diverting attention
Crapping the price right now is tantamount to demonising privat healthcare.
The sorry state of Indian media!