New Delhi: The mayhem unleashed during the farmers’ tractor protest on 26 January, particularly at Delhi’s Red Fort, once again dominated prime time. NDTV 24/7 was an exception as anchor Vishnu Som discussed the Confederation of Indian Industry’s pre-budget recommendation.
Mirror Now considered whether actor Deep Sidhu — named in the FIR by the Delhi Police in Red Fort violence case — is being used as a pawn in the protests. On Zee News, Sudhir Chaudhary hosted a live stream of his visit to the Red Fort while using the hashtag #LalQuilaHamaraHai, asserting that the Red Fort “is, was and will belong to us”.
“Who were those miscreants masquerading as farmers who sabotaged the Red Fort and wanted to show the world, through videos and pictures, that India is a weak nation?” asked a dramatic Chaudhary.
He also said the protestors were misled by those ‘weak leaders’ who have not even won a single election in their lives. Chaudhary took viewers down the memory lanes of history, mentioning all the invaders of Red Fort, beginning from Taimur Lang and compared them to the protestors at the fort.
On Aaj Tak, anchor Rohit Sardana asked when would “Gantantra ke gunehgaar” be arrested. He then asked Bhartiya Kisan Union’s spokesperson Digambar Singh if the protests would now be called off after two of the farmer unions backed out. Singh asserted that these conspiracies will not deter the willpower of farmers protesting against the three farm laws — the protests will continue.
BJP’s spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed the farmers’ movement against the three farm laws are just an excuse, the real target is our democracy. “But I want to ask these farm leaders why they diverted from the route, why swords were pulled out…?”
On Times Now, the hashtag #ArrestAnarchists dominated the screen. Anchor Navika Kumar said that the anger against the farmers at Delhi’s Red Fort hadn’t simmered down. AAP’s Atishi called for strict action against anyone who desecrated the national flag.
ANI’s Smita Prakash praised the Delhi Police for its restraint and said Pakistan wanted any flag but the tricolour at the Red Fort.
Atishi and BJP’s Nalin Kohli came armed with WhatsApp pictures and flashed them at each other from time to time. Atishi had Deep Sidhu standing by Sunny Deol on her smartphone, while Kohli flashed one AAP leader (allegedly) tweeting ‘Laal Quila Fateh’.
On CNN News 18, R-Day violence was the hot topic of debate too. Maybe too hot though.
“For God’s sake, please listen to my QUESTION!” pleaded the channel’s Managing Editor Zakka Jacob as he tried to break up the catfight between researcher Karan Bhasin and Congress spokesperson, Supriya Shrinate who were yelling at the top of their voices.
The anchor asked Shrinate why the Opposition hadn’t unequivocally condemned the violence, but Shrinate wasn’t having any of it: “Whoever this Mr. Bhasin is, how dare he say that we encouraged the violence?!” she thundered, threatening the researcher with legal action over defamation. Mr. Bhasin was also armed with a WhatsApp forward — the most powerful tool nowadays — and flashed an incomprehensible picture on the screen as ‘proof’. And then the argument and the debate went on. Same old, same old.