TV channels have shifted their attention to poll-bound states namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan with anchors holding special programmes on assembly elections. Hindi news channel Aaj Tak too organised an audience-based show in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Tuesday. Participating in the show were Rajiv Tyagi of the Congress and Sambit Patra from the BJP.
However, within minutes into the programme, the show turned into a battlefield with supporters of both the parties clashing with each other. This was after both Patra and Tyagi used derogatory terms for the Nehru-Gandhi family and Narendra Modi respectively.
During the debate, Tyagi began to shout Chaukidaar as the crowd completed his sentence with a chorus chor hai. The Congress has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi with new slogans Chaukidar Chor Hai to allege his involvement in several scam including the Dafale jets deal. Modi has, time and again, called himself as the chaukidar (security guard) of the country.
Janta Ka Reporter in its three part series last had first exposed the scam in the purchase of Rafale jets from the French company Dassault aviation. (You can read them here Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3).
To counter Tyagi’s Chaukidar Chor hai jibe, Patra said that Nehru Gandhi family members were the real Thugs of Hindostan. He said, “Jawaharlal Nehru (India’s first prime minister) was the first thug of Hindostan. Indira Gandhi was the second thug, Rajiv Gandhi was the third thug and Sonia Gandhi was the fourth thug.” He continues, “I ask, who the really thug is. This Gandhi family is a robber.”
Objecting to Patra’s language, Tyagi started addressing the crowd once again with his Chaukidar Chor Hai slogans. An enraged Patra began to shout Pappu, Pappu, Come here Pappu. This was seemingly to hurl insult at Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Soon the crowd began to leave their seating area and arrived at the stage causing an utter chaos.
The video became a dominating topic of social media conversations. Journalist Rohini Singh wrote, “This is no longer funny. This is such a depressing comment on the level of political discourse in India for which I solely blame some news channels.” User Zainab Sikandar tweeted, “I was invited for a show today with Sambit Patra as a panelist. My exact words were,”I can counter him very well but what happens when he starts abusing in so many words. I’m not raised like that plus boycotting him is the right way to go…Especially after his last faux pas.”
Congratulations, we have become a laughing stock for whole world!!! pic.twitter.com/yFqzdleiek
— Irony Of India (@IronyOfIndia_) November 20, 2018