Arnab interrogated for 12 hours

[Somedude]

How Sonia Gandhi has walked into a trap by going after Arnab Goswami

This piece is not about Arnab Goswami and his journalism. One journalist issuing a journalism certificate to another is vain.

Nor is it about television drama spilling on to streets and courts with real consequences, or a fading dynast’s desperate jabs at power and intimidation.

FIle image of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. News18

It is simply about the Congress party’s political wisdom in reacting the way it has to a news anchor’s provocation of calling its president Sonia Gandhi biased and silent on the lynching of two Hindu monks in Palghar.

It is also about how the party took Arnab calling Sonia by her maiden name ‘Antonia Maino’, dog-whistling about her being Italian, and thereby unboxing the baggage of old allegations.

Old questions tumbled out. Why did she take 16 years to become an Indian citizen after marrying Rajiv Gandhi in 1968? Has she ever been an Indian at heart, even while running the country as the power centre with Manmohan Singh as prime minister?

The episode is undoubtedly personal and sensitive for Sonia Gandhi. But those two are bad words in politics. Politicians train not to react in anger or hurt, and respond when waters of the mind are still.

Five blunders of Congress

First, reportedly attacking Goswami and his wife near their Mumbai home and filing a slew of cases against him in states like Chhattisgarh where it rules, the Congress has re-established itself in the nation’s mind as the party of Emergency. It has a distinguished record in quashing criticism and muzzling freedom of expression, captured in this Twitter thread by scientist and political commentator Anand Ranganathan.

From jailing actor Utpal Dutt to banning investigative journalist Jack Anderson’s documentary ‘Rajiv’s India’, to Kabil Sibal bringing the repressive Section 66A of the IT Act, Congress’ handiwork shines from Ranganathan’s thread (274 posts and counting).

 

It gently holds the mirror to the savagery the party is capable of on press and artistic freedom. The latest incident only acts as a national reminder of that.

Second, hounding a journalist brings under stage lights the Nehru-Gandhi family’s well-known intolerance to criticism. Scores of works like the movie Aandhi in which the protagonist resembled Indira Gandhi, or Xavier Moro’s book The Red Sari on Sonia, faced censure.

It was in under Congress rule in Bihar with Jawaharlal Nehru at the Centre that Kedar Nath Singh was slapped with sedition in 1962 for saying, “Today the dogs of CID are loitering around Barauni…today these Congress goondas are sitting on the gaddi.”

In the UPA years, there was an unwritten diktat in newsrooms to not openly criticise the family; one could take on its minions, if at all. The incidents over Palghar have proved that the much-weakened Congress has not changed.

Golden gift to the enemy

Third, the reckless aggression somehow gives one the sense that mentioning her roots gets Sonia very uncomfortable and defensive. The moment the BJP tasted blood, it pounced more fiercely on her father Stephano Maino’s story, who reportedly had served in Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini’s army. Discrepancies about her university education, citizenship, name on electoral rolls and even alleged KGB links are being dug up.

Fourth, it puts the Congress’ senior partner in the Maharashtra coalition, Shiv Sena, in a bind. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is constantly being chided by his core Marathi-Hindutva constituency for actions of the NCP and the Congress, or the ones Sena is taking to keep the alliance alive. The Congress’ brashness makes his position weaker.

Fifth and last, this gives potent ‘what about’ ammunition to the BJP. Every sin of the Congress in the past 70 years has come to the BJP’s rescue each time it got cornered in the last six years. From allowing communal violence to toppling governments, the Congress has a much better record to show. And the latest one, even with crippled power, paves the road for the BJP to travel with fresh precedence as a weapon.

This violence and vengeance is an opportunity worth in gold for the BJP. It won’t let it go.

[Mirage]

1 hour ago, Somedude said:

I don't think it's BJP. Maharashtra Govt (Congress being partner).

Actually, it doesn’t matter whether it is Congress/its alliance ruled state or not..

[tom brady]

1 hour ago, Mirage said:

Vatican is unhappy since arnab accused Sonia of keeping mum about how conversion mafia pre-mediated the murders of Sadhus in Palghar.

If this is what Sonia can do even when in opposition just think what will happen to Moshah, Yogi and all once Congress comes to power. For sure they will be behind the bars 

Who is Yogi bhogi?

[Mirage]

1 hour ago, Ellen said:

 somehow i got reminded of this

Yes, no one can dare to accuse the so-called first political family . They have the fawer

[Prince_Fan]

Great hero Arnab

[karthik25]

2 hours ago, Mirage said:

Vatican is unhappy since arnab accused Sonia of keeping mum about how conversion mafia pre-mediated the murders of Sadhus in Palghar.

If this is what Sonia can do even when in opposition just think what will happen to Moshah, Yogi and all once Congress comes to power. For sure they will be behind the bars 

Not gonna happen buddy.. Congress is done and dusted. 2024 lo BJP  280+ guarantee...

229 NDA coalition form chesukovachu.. leda third front. Appatiki Albina Maino ki 83yrs.. already tana health bad. 

Only hope for INC is to keep aside the Gandhi-Nehru family... which they won't do. 

[TrollBait]

whiny losers. who cares about arnab. that bugger can get run over by a huge train, and still I wouldn't feel sorrry for hiim.

[mustang302]

8 minutes ago, TrollBait said:

whiny losers. who cares about arnab. that bugger can get run over by a huge train, and still I wouldn't feel sorrry for hiim.

Reason ?

[Vaampire]

2 hours ago, Mirage said:

Vatican is unhappy since arnab accused Sonia of keeping mum about how conversion mafia pre-mediated the murders of Sadhus in Palghar.

If this is what Sonia can do even when in opposition just think what will happen to Moshah, Yogi and all once Congress comes to power. For sure they will be behind the bars 

Congi back to power... impossible for next several years.

2004/09 lo congi ki vachina seats less than 200.   2004 lo united ap nunchi 29, 2009 lo 33 anukunta... ippudu rendu states nunchi kalipi 3-4...

karnataka lo beaten to dust inka.. 

ippati nunchi its bjp vs 3rd front. Next 10 yrs bjp has advantage. Congi is atalo aratipandu.

[TrollBait]

2 minutes ago, mustang302 said:

Reason ?

shameless propagandist. rajdeep, barkha oka etthhu aithey, veedu 1000 ethhu lu esesaadu.

atleast they can be shamed into silence. This guy keeps on going, pouring poison through his news.

[batman2]

41 minutes ago, TrollBait said:

shameless propagandist. rajdeep, barkha oka etthhu aithey, veedu 1000 ethhu lu esesaadu.

atleast they can be shamed into silence. This guy keeps on going, pouring poison through his news.

lol seems like arnab had caused a lot of a$$burn to you and atleast for that reason i luv arnab despite him being irritating 

[Vaampire]

Arnab ki koncham noru ekkuva. Sickular asssssholes correcy ithaney.

 

i would love to see him interviewing owaisi or maya

[JaiTDP]

1 hour ago, TrollBait said:

shameless propagandist. rajdeep, barkha oka etthhu aithey, veedu 1000 ethhu lu esesaadu.

atleast they can be shamed into silence. This guy keeps on going, pouring poison through his news.

dheeni gurinchi nuvvu sebuthunnav chudu - 

 

[JaiTDP]

1 hour ago, TrollBait said:

whiny losers. who cares about arnab. that bugger can get run over by a huge train, and still I wouldn't feel sorrry for hiim.

what else can we expect from a moron like you - lol, save ur energy ra, you'll need to cry alot until 2029  

[tom brady]

1 hour ago, TrollBait said:

shameless propagandist. rajdeep, barkha oka etthhu aithey, veedu 1000 ethhu lu esesaadu.

atleast they can be shamed into silence. This guy keeps on going, pouring poison through his news.

What r u talking...he is tucker Carlson of india(no offense to TC, he is much better than this asshole)