New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal’s “spectacular”, “historic” win in the Delhi polls still had news channels in its thrall. A joyous meeting of the AAP was headline news throughout Wednesday and in the evening, prime time debates remained preoccupied with the results. Anchors of TV channels continued to discuss what BJP got wrong and AAP got right.
ABP News anchor Rubika Liyaquat quite literally dissected the word raajneeti (politics) to prove a larger point but we’re not sure what that is. “BJP’s USP is nationalism. Hindutva is their strength,” explained Liyaquat. Got that?
Temperatures ran high at India TV’s `Kurukshetra’. When anchor Saurav Sharma asked if Shaheen Bagh had failed as an issue in the elections, Gaurav Bhatia, BJP spokesperson, went off on a complete tangent: “I have also read the Constitution. You can protest if you like. However, the Supreme Court said that it can’t be at the cost of inconveniencing”.
To which, a confused Sharma protested, “But that wasn’t my question”. Bhatia, however, seemed lost in his own world and took off on, “Tera mera rishta la ilah illa allah” (our relationship…).
Aaj Tak’s anchor Anjana Om Kashyap was inventive in her line of questioning: “BJP ka Shree Ram v/s AAP ka Bajrangbali?”
In the discussion that followed, Congress’ Salman Nizami descended to polemics: “Politics in our country has really touched a low point,” he said.
“If you are getting Ram and Hanuman in a conversation about politics, it means that you don’t have anything else to debate about,” he explained.
Nidhi Razdan on NDTV 24×7 asked Naresh Gujral, Akali Dal MP, “What are the national implications of AAP’s massive win?” Pat came a bland reply, “These elections prove that if you stick to your promises and deliver, people will vote for you.” Gujral added, “You also mustn’t have a negative agenda”. Was he pointing a finger at ally BJP?
Times Now spent Wednesday at a summit, its own as it happens, the 2020 Times Now Summit. Not unnaturally, prime time was devoted to the Prime Minister who delivered a stirring speech. Modi said, “I want to request all of you to not forget the ones who sacrificed their lives to make India independent.”
Earlier, in conversation with anchor Rahul Shivshankar, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “If we finish criminal defamation, think about what people would get away with.”
“Do you think the Law Minister should keep silent about this?” he asked, rhetorically. On the need for social media freedom, Prasad said, “You seem to be talking in the air. Come to the ground and see how people are abusing the platform of free expression and media.”
Republic’s target of the evening shifted from Shaheen Bagh and the `Vadra Congress’ to the freebies given away by the Kejriwal government ahead of the Delhi elections.
And hear this: anchor Arnab Goswami declared with a completely straight face: “People of Delhi are happy with these freebies but at Republic, we believe in a calm discussion.”
“How much can be given for free? It is worrisome because other states feel that Kejriwal has a political jackpot and they must follow,” Goswami added.
Sambit Patra, BJP spokesperson, got rather emotional about subsidies: “Subsidy and mindless subsidy need to be differentiated. We have to wipe out the tears on the last man of the queue. That’s what governance must achieve.”
India Today’s anchor and occasional dancer Rajdeep Sardesai spoke to newly-elected AAP MLAs, Raghav Chadha and Atishi. Sardesai asked Atishi, “You were trailing for a moment and then pulled ahead — was there ever a moment where you felt that you might not be able to make it.”
Atishi chuckled but looked relieved. “We knew we will get a lot of votes (in) the latter part of the constituency. We were always confident that we would win by a comfortable margin.”
Asked about rumours that he would be appointed Finance Minister in Kejriwal 2.0 Cabinet, Raghav Chadha was quick to dismiss all political ambition: “I will always just be a foot soldier for the AAP. I joined it as a volunteer. I don’t have any such aspirations.”
With inputs from Shailaja Bajpai
If Arnab’s and his associated channels style is called calm, than 99.99% of gentlemen spoken ,educated, impartial, dedicated with honesty to profession journalism, should opt ,first convert voice to barking, followed by , allow to speak to your favour speaker on the subjects, restric others by imposing questioning one after other , above all get tagged etc etc, ?
Implications at national level of AAP winning 62 seats in Delhi Vidhan Sabha will be same as of year 2015 election when it won 67 seats then but now it will be with sure diminishing returns. With further reduction in voting pattern of 2-3% to AAP this Party will be history.
The worst anchors of Indian television are Arnab Goswami and Sudhir Chowdary in this zombie circus.
Boycott godi media totally.
Channels debates has given rise to lies and intolerance. The spokesperson of political parties are the worst examples of history knowledge. The lies are openly spoken by leaders, facts are denied upfront in front of intellectual crowds and most admirable is the people applaud on lies. Where we have landed in last couple of years. The day light killings in front of cameras, accused getting away even after extra judicial confession. People admitting the crime are yet to be either crack or tried. The role of Police is unbelievable specifically what is happening since last couples of months in Delhi and UP. The beauty of Channel debate is the support and justification by spokesperson coupled with Aboutries. The rise of the lies and the lies are unprecedented. For example denials of hate speeches when actually it was, denial of police actions on perpetrators. Look at the statements made by leaders with confidence level about CM of Delhi. If he is confirm terrorist then what actions has been taken against him or its just a plane lie to campaign restricted. One of the MP said that people from Shaheen Baugh would rape and that HM and PM would not come to save. NOW who is saving girls of kargi College students molested in Delhi. Secondly were those goons came from Shaheen Baugh? As claimed by during campaign. Now we Indian have to wait and watch what more we can learn from those cheap leaders in time to come during upcoming elections in Bihar and west Bengal.
Mr Arnab talking about calm discussion if like preachings of women safety by Asaram, no TV anchor barks as much as arnab barks, and Godse preaching ahimsa
TV is a business and profit has be a compulsion. But one wonders if the people who do not like the cock-fights on prime time are so few that anchors continue with their evening cock fights with the same fixed players on different channels. Seeing the same faces month after month one also wonders who pays whom ? The channels or the speakers.
In spite of such repetitive, monotonous screaming every evening if the channels are making money which they obviously are the economy has to be doing well.
The time has come for more informed, serious and disciplined debates so the people will be able to take informed decisions.
The days of thefts being exposed are over where the yelling and screaming was necessary to attract attention .