From the transcripts of the chats, it becomes apparent that Goswami seemingly is trading on the illicit entrance to power for his own advantage while the powerful are simultaneously using him and his channel to spread propaganda, venom, and further their own agendas.
On January 15, 2021, Social Media was aflutter with the leaked out WhatsApp chats of Arnab Goswami, Indian news anchor, and managing director and editor-in-chief of Republic Media Network, with Mr. Partho Dasgupta, former CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). Mr. Partho Dasgupta was arrested in the alleged TRP rigging scam by the crime branch of the Mumbai Police on December 24, 2020.
The Mumbai police on seizing Dasgupta’s mobile came across some very bomb-shelling chats between the two. These leaked out WhatsApp chats sizzled hot on Twitter and Facebook. For the man who savagely accused nearly everyone as anti-nationals, some of the statements of Arnab Goswami in the chats were very “anti-national”, inhumane with absolutely no honor for the martyred Bravehearts, nor a streak of sympathy for their families.
Comments in the chat were, “It’s good for the big man he will win the elections” “It will sweep the polls” were texted for Balakot. Another one, “This attack we have won like crazy,” was texted immediately after the tragic deaths of 40 soldiers in Pulwama in February 2019, bragging that Republic TV “won like crazy” The WhatsApp chats indicated that Arnab Goswami knew about the Balakot Air Strikes three days before it happened and he texted, “On another note, something big will happen.”
Intel did warn the BJP Government of a terrorist attack in Pulwama just two days before it happened, but they allegedly paid no heed.
It is a well-known fact that Intel did warn the BJP Government of a terrorist attack in Pulwama just two days before it happened, but they allegedly paid no heed. A car full of explosives and RDX smoothly drove through the most militarized zone in the world and rammed into the 78-vehicle convoy and it exploded. The bodies after the attack were so dismembered and mutilated that it made it difficult for doctors to give the exact number of casualties.
The other stunning disclosure was that both Dasgupta and Goswami knew details of the abrogation of Article 370 three days before the government publicly reported it. Dasgupta shares a “News Flash” with Goswami on 2nd August, – “Government of India to make Jammu separate state, Kashmir and Ladakh as Union Territories. This means we can’t have any political party and will be controlled by Delhi based Governor for ever. Order will be made in the next 1 week. It will automatically abrogate Article 370 and 35 A.”
Dasgupta asks Goswami if this is true. Goswami responds saying “I have set platinum standards in breakkng (sic) and this story is ours.” Other revelatory information in the chats was that Arnab Goswami had met National Security Advisor just two days before the abrogation of Article 370. One can deduce from this that the government delivered classified information to him. Ironically, in all of his debates, he lambasts the ‘Lutyens crowds and Lutyens Media’ while his own chats reveal his own Lutyens’ high-powered direct access to the Prime Minister and top ministers.
Through all these leaked out chats, all the television Media channels maintained a deathly eerie silence, which was strange.
Of course, his faithful fans vehemently denied the veracity of the WhatsApp chats and they fiercely argue that the “cruel Mumbai police” to defame him webbed a large conspiracy around him. They corroborated that the Supreme Court would soon clear the “brave nationalist” who exposed all the “evils” of the tudke tudke gang, jihadists, anti-nationals, urban Naxals, Khalistanis.
The very unnatural connection of the Media with the PMO and military will have devastating ramifications for the future of our nation in establishing a healthy growing democracy.
Going back to Arnab Goswami, at the beginning of his career, he appeared to be one of the most ethical journalists. He started his career with The Telegraph in Kolkata. In less than a year, he moved to Delhi and joined NDTV.
In 2006, Goswami left NDTV to join the newly launched Times Now news channel, as its editor-in-chief. Arnab Goswami resigned as editor-in-chief of Times Now on 1 November 2016. He later joined Republic TV funded in part by Asianet, primarily funded by Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
In May 2019, Goswami bought a chunk of shares held by Rajeev Chandrasekhar-promoted Asianet News Media & Entertainment to gain near full ownership. Later Republic Media Network released a statement stating that Goswami personally owns over 82 percent stake in Republic TV and that the company also owns 99 percent equity.
The Mumbai police on seizing Dasgupta’s mobile came across some very bomb-shelling chats between the two. These leaked out WhatsApp chats sizzled hot on Twitter and Facebook.
Bold and vivacious in his early days, the mesmerized crowds loved it when he yelled out at corrupt politicians. He would speak in tempered sardonic tones, and suddenly rise to decibels to attack his opponents with his slated statement, “The nation wants to know.” His rise in fame and wealth might have led him to play dangerously. His style of journalism geared towards extremities with provocative statements that instigated communal division. He was opinionated to favor the Bharatiya Janata Party and Hindutva and to portray the opposition party with hyped up negativity.
He started branding most non-BJPs as anti-nationals, name-calling them urban Naxals, Jihadis, Khalistanis, and JNU students’ terrorists. With these lashings, many thoughtfully and concisely disconnected their Republic television connections on realizing that such brandishing of venomous names on the innocent was only reverberating negative energy.
His recent conjured fake stats to authenticate that Republic was the highest viewed channel is still under investigation. Hypocrisy is suddenly reeking right through him when people are beginning to see the real man behind the mask.
Goswami glorified himself as a patriot and ultra-patriot on television channels who exposed all the “bad” people, fought for the protection and sanctity of the nation, and held that others, les misérable minorities, and “ragamuffin” crowds in India were anti-nationals bordering on treason and terrorism. This image somehow destroyed the unity of the nation.
Goswami glorified himself as a patriot and ultra-patriot on television channels who exposed all the “bad” people, fought for the protection and sanctity of the nation, and held that others, les misérable minorities, and “ragamuffin” crowds in India were anti-nationals bordering on treason and terrorism. This image somehow destroyed the unity of the nation.
While Arnab Goswami dabbled on illegitimate entrances to power for his own advantage, one must realize that he is a mere puppet on a chain obeying his master, who is exploiting him and his channel to spread propaganda and venom. It is a dangerous game to compromise one’s call for someday, sometime one will surely fall!
January 15, 2021, focused on Goswami’s “treachery”, but the completely bigger picture is far beyond him. Someone beyond Goswami is wielding the Army to his own political frame, endangering and trashing soldiers’ sacrifices without esteem. All the names mentioned in the transcripts should also face penalties for any lapses to adhere to the precepts of law as upheld in our Constitution.
The views expressed in this article are author’s personal.