Times Now’s Navika Kumar has sensationally issued a public apology after she used an objectionable work for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a LIVE TV broadcast on her TV channel. Her apology came amidst widespread condemnation for the controversial Times Now representative from her detractors with many repeating the ‘kachra’ jibe once used by Arnab Goswami for his former colleague.
Navika had used the word ‘bloody’ in disgust for Rahul Gandhi while broadcasting a programme on the unfolding situation in Punjab. The use of an objectionable term for Gandhi evoked angry reactions from Congress supporters, who demanded an apology from the Times Now executive.
Navika later took to Twitter to apologise for the ‘lapse in the flow of conversation.’ She wrote, “The momentary lapse in the flow of conversation in using an unparliamentary word on air was in the context of describing the political situation in Punjab which Shri Rahul Gandhi thought had been addressed before he took a break but persisted ironically at the time of his return. The context was certainly not to describe any person as is being misquoted. As can be seen in the clip, it was unintentional and immediately retracted. Sincere apology for the lapse.”
How dare #KachraNavika use derogatory language against @RahulGandhi.
It's a warning to @TimesNow and @navikakumar .. they must publicly apologise or face consequences in a Gandhian way!@vineetjaintimes is this your news channel or what? APOLOGISE! pic.twitter.com/DvlZrR9UlT
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) September 28, 2021
Navika, however, continued to earn netizens’ ire even after issuing a public apology with many reminding how her former boss, Arnab Goswami, had used ‘kachra (rubbish)’ jibe for her in the past.
https://twitter.com/Pun_Starr/status/1443102569908170756?s=20
In his leaked chats, Arnab called Navika Kachra.
Arnab was right for the first time.#KachraNavika
— Nimo Tai 2.0 (@Cryptic_Miind) September 29, 2021
Navika Kumar –
– Reads Whatsapp chats.
– Asks Sportsman uncomfortable questions.
– Praises the Government.
– Abuses the Opposition.Even Kachra can be useful after recycling but Navika can't be.
— Narundar (@NarundarM) September 29, 2021
Who are insulting Kachra ?#kachranavika pic.twitter.com/coUupn9pEq
— Rohan Gupta (@rohanrgupta) September 28, 2021
The only thing that i agree with @AmitShah is that navika is kachra https://t.co/iEiQRBy5yA
— Roshan Bisht (@RoshanB33518460) September 29, 2021
the use of an unparliamentary word for Rahul Gandhi by Navika came during a programme to discuss the fallout of Navjot Singh Sidhu’s resignation as Punjab Congress President. Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were reportedly in Shimla when the party’s Punjab unit was hit by a new crisis in Punjab.
Though the Congress has officially boycotted Times Now, many senior leaders such as Salman Khurshid and Jairam Ramesh have appeared on Navika’s show, Frankly Speaking’ in the recent past.