India Today Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai and BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra found themselves in a Twitter spat over the issue of violence in West Bengal. This was after Patra took a potshot at Sardesai for choosing to hold a debate on the latest spate of violence in Bengal under pressure from social media users. As expected, the veteran journalist vehemently disagreed with Patra and said that the editorial of his prime time debate was never decided by social media.
Sharing a clip of an India Today TV debate show, Patra wrote, “Social media outburst after the #BengalMassacre has forced some “Ace Reporters” to debate on this issue or else they had every plan to push it under the carpet!”
Taking offence to Patra’s jibe, Sardesai replied, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?? My friend @sambitswaraj now actually believes or would like to believe that social media decides my 9 pm news rundown. Sorry with due regards, wrong number on this one doctor Saab.”
ARE YOU SERIOUS?? My friend @sambitswaraj now actually believes or would like to believe that social media decides my 9 pm news rundown. Sorry with due regards, wrong number on this one doctor Saab . ???? https://t.co/5EiFV7c2jh
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 23, 2022
Patra asked, “I am astonished that you proudly proclaim that the power of the common Man (that’s Social Media) doesn’t decide your 9PM News Rundown ..What or WHO decides it then?”
Sardesai replied, “The common man @sambitswaraj ji is more worried about price of fuel at the moment! I hope you will join us on that debate too!”
The common man @sambitswaraj ji is more worried about price of fuel at the moment! I hope you will join us on that debate too!???? https://t.co/Th3lRJ9lOb
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 23, 2022
The killing of eight people in the Bogtui village of Bengal’s Birbhum district has snowballed into a huge political issue. Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I express my condolences on the violent incident in Birbhum, West Bengal. I hope that the state government will definitely get those who committed such a heinous sin on the great land of Bengal punished.”
He added, “I would also urge the people of Bengal to never forgive the perpetrators of such incidents, those who encourage such criminals.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that ‘such incidents have happened in Gujarat and Rajasthan too’ as she promised to punish the guilty ‘in a fair manner.’