‘Eight-pack’ Baba Ramdev on India TV, Zee News questions Rahul’s questions on Aarogya

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

File photo of Baba Ramdev | Facebook

New Delhi: ‘Lockdown 3.0’ was the top topic on prime time Sunday. The death of five security personnels during an anti-militancy operation in Jammu and Kashmir was also discussed across channels.

India TV, however, was still stuck on gaining gyaan from Baba Ramdev and Zee News continued to question the Opposition. Some things never change.

Aaj Tak’s Chitra Tripathi relayed visuals from across the country where armed forces were showering flower petals on hospitals and ‘corona warriors’, “Yeh tasveerein batane ke liye kaafi hai ki mushkil waqt mein poora desh kaise khada hua hai,” (These pictures are enough to prove how the country is standing united during a crisis).

“Corona haare, desh jeete,” (Corona loses and the country wins), Tripathi said, patriotically.

India TV has made a habit of turning to “eight packs, cut bicep wale” yoga guru Baba Ramdev. Anchor Sushant Sinha said, “Abhi bhi gym mein workout karna aur park mein walk karna dono mana hai. Lekin yog kisi bandish ke daayere mein nahi hai aur na yoga karne ke liye aapko ghar se bahar nikalne ki zaroorat hai,” (Even now we aren’t allowed to workout in the gym or the park. But, yoga doesn’t come with these restrictions, one doesn’t have to step out of their homes).

Sinha very confidently asserted, “You can get a gym body through yoga too!”

Zee News’ Aditi Tyagi continued to attack the usual target — the Opposition. Tyagi said, “Sab lockdown 3.0 ke liye tayaar hai. Lekin koi hai jisse bechaini ho rahi hai.” (Everyone is ready for Lockdown 3.0, but there is someone who is feeling restless).

She was referring to the questions raised by the Congress, including former president Rahul Gandhi, on the government’s Aarogya Setu app and data privacy. “Vipaksh ne koi bhi siyasat ka mauka nahi choda hai,” (the Opposition is not leaving any chance of exercising politics) added Tyagi.

She also targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and asked, “Is her fight against coronavirus or the Centre?”

NDTV 24×7 was in an exclusive conversation with actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui. When he was asked about his relationship with the late actor Irfan Khan, Siddiqui said, “When I first came to Mumbai, he supported me a lot. He always treated me like a younger brother and recommended me in many films”.

Speaking about his “introspections” during the lockdown, Siddiqui explained, “Before this outbreak, we used to focus on a lot of unnecessary things like weapons, but the lockdown has taught us that we need to focus more on healthcare”.

Times Now’s anchor Madhavdas G. focused on the deaths of the security personnel in J&K. Five personnel, including a major and a colonel, were killed during an 18-hour long anti-militancy operation in the Handwara region of Jammu and Kashmir.

“This was while they were trying to rescue civilians when they were taken hostage by terrorists and these include some of our most decorated officers,” explained Madhavdas.

India Today’s Gaurav C. Sawant was in conversation with deceased officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma’s wife Pallavi Sharma. Colonel Sharma was one of the five security officers killed in Handwara.

Sawant asked about the colonel’s unit — “I have been speaking to a number of army officials and they say that your husband was exceptionally brave. I believe that he had the choice to command his unit in peace but he chose to command a Rashtriya Rifle unit in the Valley. Is that true?”

Sharma explained, “It was a mutual decision. He asked me if he should go for it and I told him that for me it’s all about your happiness.”