Veteran journalist, Rajdeep Sardesai has called former journalist, Arnab Goswami’s claims of being in trouble while covering the Gujarat genocide of 2002 ‘fekugiri’ implying that there was no truth to the latter’s claims. Hours after Janta Ka Reporter first published this report, Arnab’s video had mysteriously disappeared from the YouTube.
While posting an old video of Goswami, where he’s seen narrating how he was in trouble while covering the Gujarat riots for the NDTV in 2002, Sardesai wrote, “Wow! My friend Arnab claims his car attacked next to CM Res in Guj riots! Truth:he wasn’t covering Ahmedabad riots!!”
He added, “Fekugiri has its limits, but seeing this, I feel sorry for my profession.”
Fekugiri has its limits, but seeing this, I feel sorry for my profession. https://t.co/xOe7zY8rCp
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
Sardesai said that the incident which Goswami spoke about had indeed taken place but ‘only he wasn’t there, some of us who actually were on ground zero were.”
He wrote, “Am told Arnab speech on Guj riots made to an audience in Assam when Cong in power! Am I surprised? Post truth society mein sab chalta hai!”
Am told Arnab speech on Guj riots made to an audience in Assam when Cong in power! Am I surprised? Post truth society mein sab chalta hai!?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
Rohit Bhan, NDTV’s Gujarat correspondent wrote that it was Sardesai, then Goswami’s boss, and not the Republic TV chief, whose car was stopped by the Hindutva mob.
Bhan wrote, “If i am not mistaken it was you and pranav whose car was stopped?”
If i am not mistaken it was you and pranav whose car was stopped?
— rohit bhan (@rohit_bhan) September 19, 2017
To which the veteran journalist agreed and wrote that the incident had taken place in Narendra Gudavalli.
That is correct. And Narendra Gudavalli. https://t.co/rxL5IhYmuY
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
He added, “Incident was in Gandhinagar Sarkhej highway, few kilometres away from Cm residence.”
Incident was in Gandhinagar Sarkhej highway, few kilometres away from Cm residence. https://t.co/38AmVPeP3j
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
In response to a user’s objection to calling Goswami’s claims ‘fekugiri,’ Sardesai said that he was merely setting the record straight.
“Only setting the record straight. New day, let’s move on to the next story!” he added.
Only setting the record straight. New day, let's move on to the next story! https://t.co/ZknhLbvvw8
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
In an old video, Goswami is seen claiming how his car was stopped by people with ‘trishuls’ during the Gujarat genocide of 2002, just 50 meters from the then chief minister, Narendra Modi’s residence in Gandhinagar.
“I know it’s unsavoury, but I must share the reality of life with you. It happens just 50 meters from the chief minister’s residence. How it happened I don’t know. We said we are journalists. They said no no, what’s your religion,” Goswami is heard saying.
It seems Goswami delivered this speech before he surrendered his editorial integrity and freedom to Modi and the BJP because he’s seen critical of the prime minister in this video.
Goswami is alleged to have become the spokesperson of the central government and its ideological mentor, the RSS, since the BJP won a landslide in Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
He was sacked from Times Now in November 2016 before he launched Republic TV with the help of the NDA MP, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, earlier this year.