On 4th September, journalist-turned-TMC MP Sagarika Ghose targeted the then-Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government in 1999, accusing it of being a “soft” state for releasing three terrorists as part of the negotiations with the hijackers of the IC814 Indian Airlines plane. Notably, the hijacking is in the news after a series based on it was released on Netflix, with many accusing it of being soft towards the terrorists.
Sagarika Ghose wrote on X (Twitter), “In 1999, the #AtalBihariVajpayee government, a coalition led by BJP, released THREE of India’s most wanted terrorists during the #IC814 hijacking. Among them was Masood Azhar, who had been arrested by the Congress’s PV Narasimha Rao govt in 1994. In 1999, the IC 814 hijacking caught the Vajpayee government napping. In 1971, Indira Gandhi had invaded East Pakistan. Who runs the so-called ‘soft’ state, BJP or Congress? In my biography of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”
In 1999 the #AtalBihariVajpayee government , a coalition led by @BJP4India, released THREE of India’s most wanted terrorists during the #IC814 hijacking. Among them was Masood Azhar who had been arrested by the @INCIndia’s PV Narasimha Rao govt in 1994. In 1999 the IC 814… pic.twitter.com/bGoFfkKmPj
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 4, 2024
Sagarika Ghosh used the current controversy over the hijacking to promote her book on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and she posted several tweets attacking the then NDA government for releasing three terrorists to secure the release of the passengers held hostage in Afghanistan’s Kandahar. “A shamefaced India gave in meekly to the terrorists demands and released 3 wanted terrorists. It was a crushing failure of the BJP‘s first prime minister,” she wrote.
The journalist-turned-politician completely ignored the fact that her own party was a part of the save coalition government, and her leader Mamata Banerjee was a cabinet minister in the Vajpayee government.
However, her half-baked knowledge about the coalition government ran dry pretty quickly as Kanchan Gupta, Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, reminded her that Trinamool Congress (TMC) was part of the coalition at that time, and Mamata Banerjee was Union Minister for Railways. He added that during a crucial Cabinet meeting, Banerjee not only endorsed freeing the terrorists but aggressively pushed for it.
This #TMC MP @sagarikaghose is being deceitful. Her boss Mamata Banerjee was Union Minister for Railways in 1999. At crucial Cabinet meeting @MamataOfficial not only endorsed freeing 3 terrorists to secure freedom of passengers and crew of #IC814, she aggressively pushed for it. pic.twitter.com/kOzv5ru7yZ
— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) September 4, 2024
He wrote, “This TMC MP Sagarika Ghose is being deceitful. Her boss Mamata Banerjee was Union Minister for Railways in 1999. At a crucial Cabinet meeting, Mamata Banerjee not only endorsed freeing 3 terrorists to secure the freedom of passengers and crew of IC814, she aggressively pushed for it.” Kanchan Gupta was OSD in the PMO to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a member of the National Security Advisory Board when the hijacking took place.
By the time this report was published, Ghose had not replied to Kanchan Gupta. However, earlier, Ghose had threatened journalist Tushar Gupta with defamation when he called out her half-baked post. In a post on X, Tushar wrote, “TMC Rajya Sabha MP does not know that TMC was a part of the coalition led by the BJP in 1999. It happens when you do not earn your ticket but buy it.”
TMC Rajya Sabha MP does not know that TMC was a part of the coalition led by the BJP in 1999. It happens when you do not earn your ticket but buy it. pic.twitter.com/SqTXg50cDz
— Tushar Gupta (@Tushar15_) September 4, 2024
Though Tushar never specified which ticket, Ghose assumed he was referring to her Rajya Sabha ticket. She threatened him with defamation, saying, “‘Buy’ a Rajya Sabha ticket? Please prove it here with evidence. Else Tushar Gupta, you are liable for defamation immediately.” She tagged TMC leader Derek O’Brien in the post.
Replying to her, Tushar clarified he never said Rajya Sabha ticket. He subtly questioned the missing “Freedom of Speech and Expression” when it comes to TMC leaders. He said, “So much for Freedom of Speech and Expression. I wrote about buying a ‘ticket’. She assumed I said ‘Rajya Sabha ticket’. Laughable.”
So much for Freedom of Speech and Expression. I wrote about buying a 'ticket'. She assumed I said 'Rajya Sabha ticket'. Laughable. pic.twitter.com/yIpXi1GSUe
— Tushar Gupta (@Tushar15_) September 4, 2024
Ghose then threatened him to see him in court and wrote, “Keep laughing Mr Tushar Gupta and save your explanations for court.”
Netflix’s web series “IC814: The Kandhar Hijack” has stirred controversy as it has been alleged that the makers of the series did not disclose the real names of the terrorists and used pseudo names that the terrorists had used. Following the controversy, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting summoned Netflix India’s content head who promised not only to update the disclaimer but also to moderate content in the future.
