Indian Idol judge Vishal Dadlani has lashed out at activist Rahul Easwar for defending Arnab Goswami on the alleged leaked WhatsApp chat. Dadlani, a music composer of repute in Bollywood, reacted after Easwar said that Goswami’s patriotism must not be questioned even after the WhatsApp chat revealed how he had allegedly celebrated the killings of 40 plus Indian soldiers in Pulwama last year. In another chat, Goswami had allegedly claimed to know about the Balakot airstrikes at least three days before the Indian Air Force carried out military exercises deep inside Pakistan.
Easwar took to Twitter to write, “I have known #ArnabGoswami ji for 12 years. He is a #Patriot who loves our motherland #India . I strongly disagree with many of his positions, but Sri Arnab won’t even think of anything bad for our nation. @republic #StayStrong #RepublicTV.”
A visibly angry Dadlani replied, “If he celebrated the death of 40 of our soldiers as a “Big win”, and you are choosing to defend that, then YOUR own patriotism is clearly questionable. Shame on him and on you.”
If he celebrated the death of 40 of our soldiers as a “Big win”, and you are choosing to defend that, then YOUR own patriotism is clearly questionable.
Shame on him and on you. https://t.co/9pm6lGBtqd
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 17, 2021
In a subsequent tweet, Dadlani wrote, “Someone needs to tell it like it is. If Arnab had info about an op classified Top Secret, is that not a criminal offence under the Official Secrets Act? If so, shouldn’t Arnab be prosecuted & an enquiry instituted against the Def.Min, Home Min. & PMO to “locate the leak”?”
Someone needs to tell it like it is. If Arnab had info about an op classified Top Secret, is that not a criminal offence under the Official Secrets Act?
If so, shouldn’t Arnab be prosecuted & an enquiry instituted against the Def.Min, Home Min. & PMO to “locate the leak”? https://t.co/thFl2Y9B0y
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 17, 2021
Dadlani was reacting to a special coverage by Times Now, Goswami’s former employer, on the alleged WhatsApp leak leaving the Republic TV founder exposed. Meanwhile, the Congress has said that it will make an official statement within the next 48 hours on the controversy. However, several senior leaders from Maharashtra and Kerala have asked Goswami to be tried for treason under the Official Secrets Act.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed tweeted, “#ArnabGate exposed that BJP govt told #ArnabGoswami about the Balakot strike 3 days before it happened.Leaking top secret details about defence strategies to a private citizen is not only a massive security breach but TREASON by GOI . Government of India must be held accountable!.”
Congress leader from Maharashtra Sachin Sawant tweeted, “It is a question of National Security. Will soon demand High level Inquiry about the WhatsApp chats between Arnab Goswami and Partho Dasgupta.”
It is a question of National Security. Will soon demand High level Inquiry about the WhatsApp chats between Arnab Goswami and Partho Dasgupta. pic.twitter.com/RSpXSOOKtE
— Sachin Sawant सचिन सावंत (@sachin_inc) January 17, 2021
In the viral leaked WhatsApp chat, Goswami had allegedly predicted the Balakot airstrikes three days before the military exercise took place.