A video of Mani Shankar Aiyar telling reporters from the newly launched Republic TV to get out has gone viral on social media. The veteran Congress leader is now being hailed as a ‘Boss’ on the microblogging site, Twitter, particularly by his supporters.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday as the outspoken politician called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra and discussed the prevailing situation in Kashmir.
In the video, not one but two reporters are seen insisting for a reaction from Aiyar questioning why he had chosen to meet Hurriyat leaders.
The reporter asks, “Is it on behalf of the Congress party?”
Aiyar responds by saying, “I don’t talk to anti-national channel.”
The reporter persists, “But the separatists have been instigating riots in the Kashmir. What do you have to say?”
Pat cam the response, “I don’t talk to anti-national channel.”
The reporter, now joined by his female colleague, who doesn’t like Aiyar calling Republic TV ‘anti-national channel, also tries to corner the politician.
This irks Aiyar, who then asks them get out saying, “I don’t talk to anti-national channel.”
The members of the delegation, had met leaders of various segments of the society including the separatists before meeting the governor.
The delegation had earlier met separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Apart from Aiyar, the delegation included Air Vice Marshal (retired) Kapil Kak, O P Sharma, chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress, and journalist Vinod Sharma.
The governor, an appointee of the central government, appreciated the initiatives of the Centre for Peace and Progress and thanked the delegation for their valuable contribution towards the restoration of normalcy in the state, the spokesman said.
News channels such as Times Now and Republic have long been accused of carrying out propaganda of the RSS and the BJP. These two channels had condemned the delegation’s attempts to seek normalcy in Kashmir, where the situation has turned worst in 30 years.
Times Now, in particular, had even run a Twitter trend, #ConclavesOfCowards in protest to the peace delegation’s initiatives.
Twitter users, mostly Congress supporters, praised Aiyar for his ‘insult’ to the Republic TV, which has an NDA MP as one of its financiers. Aiyar was also branded as a real Boss.
Here are some of the reactions:
The best thing that Mani Shankar Aiyar could do with @Republic TV … Like a BOSS! ????? pic.twitter.com/8JycAztYGL
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) May 25, 2017
Mani Shankar?? Aiyar misbehaved with Republic reporter.called the channel ANTI-NATIONAL pic.twitter.com/ERG9I1W3tN
— APUL VERMA (@VermaApul) May 26, 2017
@republic just get out of here… i wish journalism has some words like this for you guys.
Mani shankar aiyyar you just nailed it ?? pic.twitter.com/7kgYyr2vsj— Devashish Jarariya (@jarariya91) May 26, 2017
Now that Mani Shankar Aiyer has set a benchmark to handle channels like @republic it’s time all congress spokies followed suit
— Vinay Kumar Dokania (@vinaydokania) May 25, 2017
This “news” manufacturer is aware that a few months back BJP’s Yashwant Sinha tried & failed to meet Syed Ali Shah Geelani #BJPforHurriyat? https://t.co/hBfsKcno4O
— Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) May 26, 2017