New Delhi: Prime time Thursday was like that wedding buffet where you don’t know where to start and at least two dishes look the same but have different names. India TV and Aaj Tak both had “exclusive” interviews with killed gangster Vikas Dubey’s widow Richa Dubey, while on News Nation, the BJP’s Uma Bharti said that her mother’s womb was “blessed”. Meanwhile, Republic TV wanted the CBI to investigate the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, on the eve of his Disney+ Hotstar release, Dil Bechara. And CNN News 18 spoke to Sonu Sood, who brought back 1,500 stranded Indian students from Kyrgyzstan.
On Aaj Tak, anchor Anjana Om Kashyap brought in a “super exclusive” interview with slain gangster Vikas Dubey’s widow, Richa Dubey. Kashyap started the show by saying, “Richa Dubey herself will tell us about the entire story of her husband’s crimes, she is also saying that she herself wanted to shoot Vikas.” Whoa.
Richa detailed the domestic violence she suffered at Vikas’ hands when she questioned his illegal activities and said this was why she left Kanpur and moved to Lucknow. She also said that it’s a “fact” that he had ties with the cops. In fact, she said, her husband had managed food and water for police personnel for three months during the nationwide lockdown. “I am speechless as to how the rest of the things unfolded,” Richa said.
On why Dubey went so far without actually getting sentenced, Richa said that it was all due to his “good luck.” That’s what they call it these days, it seems.
India TV also had an “exclusive” interview with Dubey. She denied allegations that she watched the killing of the police by Dubey and his associates via CCTV footage connected to her phone. “I don’t know why he did that. Had I known, I would have stopped the massacre. Had I been there, I would have placed myself in the spot, but wouldn’t have let this happen with so many police officers,” she said.
On to Arnab Goswami on Republic TV, who called Sushant Singh Rajput’s death the “biggest national talking point today.”
“Why was there a folding bed next to his cupboard, there were loose wires next to his bed. Why are these questions not being answered?” asked an aggrieved family friend of Rajput, Nilotpal Mrinal.
“It’s a fit case for a CBI probe, I am surprised what is preventing the Mumbai Police from asking the questions,” noted journalist Saurabh Shukla. “Why are the custodians of Bollywood so silent, why aren’t they speaking up?” he asked passionately.
Moving on to Rajasthan as Pilot and Gehlot continue to remain in gridlock, Mirror Now‘s ‘The Urban Debate’ saw anchor Tanvi Shukla focus on the Supreme Court’s critical questions about the involvement of the Speaker in the disqualification of the rebel MLAs.
Sidharth Luthra, former Additional Solicitor General commented, “What is at stake here in consideration is the role of the Speaker and, as was pointed out even earlier, that it is time perhaps to have an independent body to determine issues regarding breach of the Tenth Schedule [the anti-defection law].”
“The Sachin Pilot group has not joined any other party. The Speaker’s powers come into force when there are proceedings within the House when a group leaves a party or is wanting to move to another group,” noted Kailash Vasdev, a senior Supreme Court advocate.
From Rajasthan to Kyrgyzstan: actor Sonu Sood has emerged as an unlikely hero in Covid times, what with making arrangements for migrant workers to go home and now bringing home students from Kyrgyzstan. CNN News 18 anchor Zakka Jacob interviewed Sood and Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director of Spicejet, which flew the students back.
“The students were in bad shape. They were really scared, they had no means to come back. Which is when I realised I have to do this Mission Kyrgyzstan,” Sood explained. “When the first flight landed in Varanasi, all the excitement that followed was really worth it.”
“This came from Sonu. People approached him as everyone knows the marvellous work he has been doing. The students reached out to Sonu and he reached out to us,” Singh said. “One of the wonderful things about owning an airline is doing things like these,” he added.
News Nation‘s Deepak Chaurasia turned to the Babri Masjid demolition case and wondered if they should be dismissed —the case is currently being heard by a CBI court in Lucknow. He introduced Uma Bharti, BJP’s National Vice-President and an accused, as a “prakhar neta” of the Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan.
Bharti said she was thrilled that that the foundation stone of the Ram Temple would finally be laid on 5 August. “Even if I close my eyes forever after 5 August, I will still be extremely happy because there is no greater happiness for me than this,” said Bharti.
Bharti added that she was blessed to have got the opportunity to be a part of the movement. “My mother’s womb was blessed,” Bharti said.