scorecardresearch
Friday, March 29, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomePlugged InPrimeTimeDelhi tractor rally — Rubika says 'shameful', Ravish laments violence, News18 on...

Delhi tractor rally — Rubika says ‘shameful’, Ravish laments violence, News18 on Waterthon

A quick take on what prime time TV news talked about.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi: India’s 72nd Republic Day was nothing short of eventful. From a socially-distanced Republic Day parade to many parts of the national capital turning chaotic as the farmers’ tractor rally turned violent in different parts of the city.

In the middle of the mayhem, which other news channels reported all day, CNN News18 and News18 India hosted, live, `India’s first ever Waterthon’ till late afternoon. `The Waterthon—Mission Paani’, saw anchor Anand Narasimhan invite a galaxy of politicians and celebrities to speak about the importance of water. It was co-hosted by actor Akshay Kumar, who walked 21 kilometres — on a treadmill — to understand what women, compelled to fetch water from far off wells, had to endure. News sense, anyone?

At the event, Home Minister Amit Shah said, “I appeal to our countrymen to save water and I hope Network18‘s initiative of ‘Mission Paani’ will make people understand the importance of conserve water.”

 

Onto more pressing matters, which also required the Home Minister’s attention — the farmers’ tractor rally in Delhi that saw farmers break barricades, vandalise police vehicles and enter the Red Fort, as the Delhi Police lobbed tear gas and resorted to lathi-charge. News anchors, across the board, had plenty to say about it.

On India Today, anchor Rajdeep Sardesai asked whether the Republic Day tractor rally was a recipe for anarchy.

Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav, who is one of the protests’ leaders, said, “We intended it to be and designed it to be a celebration of Republic Day. We took all precautions we could. I feel disappointed and regretful.”

Gurprit Singh, president, Global Sikh Council, added, “What happened at Red Fort is condemnable. But, who did it, how it happened, are some questions that need to be asked and answered.”

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate took a jibe at BJP’s ‘bandobast’:”What happened today is highly condemnable. But when a crowd like this enters, what sort of ‘bandobast’ was made?”

On Republic TV, Arnab Goswami debated #ConspiracyAgainstIndia, and demanded that “all these anti-nationals should be rounded up and put behind bars”. When RLD spokesperson Inder Jeet Singh Titu said he agreed with Goswami, the anchor replied, “If you are standing with us, first say you are against these conspirators who are against India. Only then can you stand with us.”

Speaking over Titu (as he always does), Goswami said he considered the nation first and retorted, “You are either part of the nationalist movement or against it, that’s a simple binary now.”

Zee News anchor Aman Chopra opened his debate with the remark: “Most intelligence inputs proved right as ‘Khalistanis’ tried to capture the Red Fort today.”

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, Congress, said, “I hope people patiently handle the situation… but the government has exhausted the farmers — if they would’ve listened to the farmers’ requests, this parade wouldn’t have taken place.”

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia replied, “The fact that Congress is calling these hooligans as ‘farmers’ explains the reason why the party is in such a state today.” Bhatia added that no one should disregard the efforts made by various forces to stop such vandalism.

“What happened on the streets of Delhi was shameful,” proclaimed ABP‘s Rubika Liyaqat. The anchor also contended that today’s incidents had made evident the “real” intentions of the farmers.

In her monologue, Liyaqat lamented the protestors breaking their promises made to the police, breached the routes they were supposed to follow and openly defied laws and rules.

“Right from the morning to the evening it seemed that Delhi’s streets had turned into a Jungle Raj,” she concluded.

NDTV India’s Ravish Kumar who has been sympathetic to the farmers’ cause, had some questions on his mind.

Kumar explained that the police of three different states could not manage to control the situation and neither could the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, that was leading the farmers’ protests. Kumar said farmers deviated from the designated route and reached the Red Fort. He wondered how they could have gathered in such large numbers outside the Red Fort and even hoisted their flag (Nishan Sahib) there, on a day like Republic Day. “Was there absolutely no protection outside the Red Fort?” he asked.

Kumar then condemned the events of the day: “Any instance of violence no matter how big or small, one cannot keep quiet about it or turn a blind eye.” He said the violence at ITO and at the Red Fort had taken away from the success of the farmers’ protest, which had been mostly peaceful till now.

(Inputs by Angana Chakrabarti)

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular