Republic's Arnab Goswami's 'Irresponsible Journalism' lambasted by Tennis Star Mahesh Bhupathi & tycoon Anand Mahindra
After several social activists and peace loving citizens, latest in the list are Industrialist
Anand Mahindra and tennis legend Mahesh Bhupati on Thursday lashed out at Arnab
Goswami’s Republic TV for irresponsible journalism over the imminent release of
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan. Wing Commander Varthman is
said to be released later today.
Soon after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told his
parliament that his country had decided to release Wing Commander
Abhinandan, Goswami’s channel had declared the development as Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s victory. Its news flash had said, “TITANIC WIN FOR INDIA:
Pakistan to release IAF’s Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow, crumbling under
unprecedented pressure from India.”
This evoked angry reactions from social media users, who felt
that the provocative post by Republic TV in a bid to support Modi may
jeopardise the safety of the Indian Air Force officer.
An angry Mahindra wrote, “I rarely comment on
media postures. But the prime objective now is to allow our soldier to come
home safely. This is not the time to jeopardise that event with such calls for
celebration… Arnab, please, we must exercise restraint…”
Mahindra wasn’t alone in his criticism for
Goswami’s channel that he founded with the help of BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev
Chandrasekhar in 2017. Tennis legend and 12-time Grand Slam winner, Bhupati,
too expressed similar anger as he wrote, “Really?? Titanic? How about we just
keep praying till he gets home .. instead of gloating while he is captive!!!”
Goswami was seen gloating inside his studio as the Indian Air
Force carried out air strikes inside Pakistan on 26 February calling it a huge
victory of Modi’s decisive approach. However, a day later, when the news of
Wing Commander Abhinandan’s capture and the downing of a MiG 21 came in, the
mood inside his studio had turned grim.
The BJP, which Goswami’s channel is accused of supporting, is
desperate to extract the much-needed electoral mileage from the tension at the
border between India and Pakistan.
Goswami was left red-faced by a senior officer of the
Indian Air Force on Thursday, when Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said that
estimating the number of casualties in Balakot was premature. This came in sharp contrast to what Goswami and other TV
anchors had claimed soon after the air strikes in Balakot.
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