It’s amusing when the champions of freedom of speech and freedom of press are the first ones to cheer when a reporter from rival news channel with opposing views gets heckled by their clan masquerading as activists. Few days back, JNU Students’ Union President Mohit Pandey and ‘social activist’ Nadeem Khan heckled a Republic TV reporter, who was covering Jignesh Mevani’s press conference at the Press Club of India.
Many came out in support of Khan and Pandey, complimenting them for taunting a reporter who was just doing his job. Propagandist Kunal Kamra under the pretence of being a comedian, cheered the duo and mocked the reporter.
Indeed funny how I ignore these JNU based goons who failed to provoke me even after repeated attempts. Funny is their desperation. Funny is their aimless miserable life. Funny is their violent mindset. Funny is their hypocrisy. Isn’t it, bro?
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 9, 2018
He then tried to normalise heckling by indulging in whataboutery.
It’s funny to see how a rat rants. How much have you been paid to speak and harass journalists like this? You are a coward without any sense of direction of any courage of conviction in life. Hence spreading rumours and falsehood. Stop being a lapdog of Jignesh Mevani. Not funny.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 9, 2018
Yesterday, after Jignesh Mevani’s flop ‘Yuva Hunkar Rally’, which was carried out despite refusal of permission by the Delhi Police, another Republic TV journalist was heckled and shown lewd gestures.
#JigneshFlopShow | WATCH: Jignesh’s goons heckle and make lewd gestures at Republic TV’s Shivani Gupta https://t.co/lpnVZxoMbs pic.twitter.com/eIkNP7Ycju
— Republic (@republic) January 9, 2018
Shivani Gupta, a journalist with Republic TV was threatened with provocative and sexual gestures. And not surprisingly, there is radio silence from the champions of freedom of press. However, all hope is not lost. Support poured in from a few journalists who condemned such behaviour.
For any reporter this is a scary situation. Crowds like these will move from sloganeering to violence any moment. Don’t agree with Republic’s coverage? Counter them with facts. This is not done. https://t.co/xFy0OTBN7U
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) January 9, 2018
Two years ago, @AdityaRajKaul stood in solidarity with an NDTV journo who was allegedly heckled at her job. I want to know how many journalists will stand today in solidarity with his Republic colleague @ShivaniGupta_5 harassed similarly. https://t.co/oJE8ApYz4f
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) January 9, 2018
.@jigneshmevani80, @Shehla_Rashid and @kanhaiyajnusu would be well advised to condemn this pathetic behaviour at the rally against @ShivaniGupta_5pic.twitter.com/9IlHAInksw
— Jaskirat Singh Bawa (@JaskiratSB) January 9, 2018
Some even came in support of Shivani, who stood her ground and didn’t let the bullies bring her down.
Proud of you @ShivaniGupta_5 – the way you handled it – if at all they represent an ideology, it’s “लफंगई”#JigneshFlopShow https://t.co/5Ozhos22cP
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) January 9, 2018
And these people talk of justice and respect for women. Pathetic behaviour. Trying to intimidate a lady reporter is so low even for them. They talk of tolerance but are equally intolerant. Glad that @ShivaniGupta_5 stood her ground and cool https://t.co/WKj99ngeCl
— Snehesh Alex Philip (@sneheshphilip) January 9, 2018
While many even questioned the silence of the prominent journalists.
When Rajdeep faced similar slogans (and much less aggressive) he punched a man, and every liberal stood with Rajdeep. But when a woman journalist faces an even more lewd heckling, liberals look the other way? Is it to be concluded that libs are anti-women? https://t.co/jsH3oMJe0S
— Kaushal S Inamdar (@ksinamdar) January 10, 2018
Even the ones who called out Shehla Rashid who had bullied a Republic TV journalist in September, 2017, were silent.
