Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami recently interviewed the BJP President Amit Shah, who was allowed to make all kinds of astonishing claims without being challenged. Shah used the platform to repeat his often made claims that the West Bengal government was promoting Urdu to appease Muslims in a predominantly Bengali speaking state and Hindus were facing problems in observing their festivals such as Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja. Shah’s claims prompted Asaduddin Owaisi to attack him with the ‘dog-whistle’ jibe.
Speaking to Arnab Goswami, the BJP president said, “In Bengal, we’ve lost our 80 karyakartas, Urdu language is being imposed. People have to take permission to perform Durga & Saraswati pooja. Infiltration is ruining the local demography. Didi has taken every possible step to prevent us from organising rallies.”
In Bengal, we’ve lost our 80 karyakartas, Urdu language is being imposed.
People have to take permission to perform Durga & Saraswati pooja. The infiltration ruining the local demography.
Didi has taken every possible step to prevent us from organizing rallies: Shri @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/hsNYMTlk78
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 24, 2019
Shah alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s helicopter was not allowed to land in Bengal adding that this had not stopped people from thronging in large numbers to hear his election speeches.
Arnab Goswami, who is usually quite alert during his interviews and seldom misses an opportunity to counter his non-BJP guests with follow-up questions, remained subdued and allowed Shah to make astonishing claims without substantiating them with evidence.
It took AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to respond to Shah’s claims when he wrote, “Self-explanatory, as far as dog-whistles go.”
Self-explanatory, as far as dog-whistles go. https://t.co/eDSAAu09sG
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 24, 2019
Last week, a guest on his show had asked Arnab Goswami to remove the dog whistle of his mouth by accusing him of being a BJP sympathiser. This had prompted Goswami to launch a tirade as he accused his guest of being a dog, who he claimed was loyal to the Congress.