While the nation remembers in horror, the nights of terror unleashed by Pakistan on Mumbai for 4 days starting from 26th November 2008, Rajdeep Sardesai was up to his ‘vulture’ ways all over again. While the nation mourned the loss of over 174 lives in 2008, Rajdeep ‘vulture’ Sardesai compared the carnage of 26/11 to Maharashtra politics.
Today is also 26/11 anniversary.. brave men were ‘martyred’ to save citizens from terrorists in Mumbai’s 5 star hotels.. today, netas stay in 5 star hotels to ‘save’ themselves from a new form of terror: political poaching. Then it was about courage, now it’s about cash..
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) November 26, 2019
Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted “Today is also 26/11 anniversary.. brave men were ‘martyred’ to save citizens from terrorists in Mumbai’s 5-star hotels.. today, netas stay in 5-star hotels to ‘save’ themselves from a new form of terror: political poaching. Then it was about courage, now it’s about cash..”.
11 years ago, on 26th November 2008, Pakistani terrorists crossed the border and unleashed nights of carnage and terror on the financial capital of India – Mumbai. In a series of terror attacks on 26/11, 10 terrorists from Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 coordinated shootings and bombings that held the city captive for 4 days.
The attacks occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Chabad House, The Oberoi Trident, The Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, The Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier’s College. There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai’s port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.
Between 26th November and 29th November 2008, at least 174 people were killed (the numbers are suspected to be far more) and 300 people were injured.
Rajdeep Sardesai compared a carnage of this level unleashed by Pakistan on India to Maharashtra politics where political parties are vying for power. To make the comparison, Rajdeep foolishly tries to say that in 2008, martyrs were fighting to save religions, while today, politicians are trying to save themselves in 5-star hotels. While then, it was about courage, now it’s about cash. The comparison itself is ridiculous where he compares the valour of soldiers during a terror attack to that of politicians vying for power.
For Rajdeep Sardesai, though, the insensitivity displayed while talking about a terror attack is not new. In 2018, Rajdeep Sardesai had admitted that when the Parliament was being attacked in 2001, he was ‘excited’ and that journalists are like vultures.
After severe backlash, Rajdeep had apologised for his remark and tried to insinute that it was a one-off slip of the tongue and a bad choice of words. In 2013 too, Rajdeep had expressed glee at the Parliament attacks.
He reiterated that it was a “great day”. He said media persons are like vultures and in fact, he went as far as to say that for journalists, ‘terror is exciting’. This was not a one-off remark and Rajdeep implying so is him being dishonest.
What Rajdeep Sardesai tells us here is that what makes a journalist great is not merely doing his job, but to harbour that mindset that makes terror attacks seem exciting for the sake of TRPs. After all, that is what the 26/11 told us, as well. That is what the media’s conduct during those harrowing hours that left hundreds of people dead told the world, as evidenced by the Supreme Court’s observations. Today, that same mindset has got Rajdeep Sardesai to compare a terror attack with what is happening in Maharashtra.
