On 15th December, the Congress Party once again opened a front against India Today and Aaj Tak’s News Director, Rahul Kanwal, and announced that they had blacklisted him. The development came after, according to Congress, Kanwal “insulted” Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at the India Today Conclave during an interview with Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the India Today conclave, Kanwal exposed the Gandhi scion stating that even though he held forth on upholding the Constitution, he had been visiting
The Congress Party has always stood for freedom of the press and respects fair journalism – not when those carrying a press card are actually acting like trolls on behalf of a political party.
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) December 15, 2024
We do not think it is necessary to engage with such trolls. It has therefore been…
In a post on the social media platform X, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Department of the All India Congress Committee, Pawan Khera, wrote, “The Congress Party has always stood for freedom of the press and respects fair journalism – not when those carrying a press card are actually acting like trolls on behalf of a political party. We do not think it is necessary to engage with such trolls. It has therefore been decided to blacklist India Today’s Rahul Kanwal, who was brazenly kowtowing to the self-styled Chanakya who made outrageous innuendos on the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, at the India Today Conclave. We gave Kanwal a chance the last time when he regretted his conduct, but he has turned out to be a repeat offender and hence, by our participation, we cannot qualify what he does in the name of journalism.”
In an earlier post, Khera, who was visibly angry as asserted in the post’s content, said, “What was more shameless? The Home Minister of the country indulging in cheap, gutter-level gossip about the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rahul Gandhi or Rahul Kanwal deriving cheap thrills by egging Amit Shah and the audience? Would Rahul Kanwal have the guts to ask Shah about Modi’s abandoned wife? Would Kanwal have the guts to ask Shah about Snoopgate? Is this what India Today conclaves have been reduced to, Mr Aroon Purie?”
What was more shameless? The Home Minister of the country indulging in cheap, gutter level gossip about LOP, Mr @RahulGandhi or @rahulkanwal deriving cheap thrills egging Amit Shah and audience?
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) December 15, 2024
▪️Would @rahulkanwal have the guts to ask Shah about the abandoned wife of Modi?…
This is not the first time the Congress Party has targeted Kanwal. On 4th September, Khera posted on X, stating that Kanwal had met the Congress President and other party leaders to clarify his position regarding a debate on Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, during which a BJP spokesperson made remarks that the party deemed “obnoxious views.” Kanwal approached the Congress leaders after they announced their decision to boycott his shows.
Mr @rahulkanwal met the Hon’ble Congress President, the General Secy Media, Communications and Publicity and the Chairman, Media, Communications and Publicity to clarify his position on the matter pertaining to the debate on Late Smt Indira Gandhi and Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi and…
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) September 4, 2024
What happened during the interview at the India Today Conclave
In the interview with Home Minister Amit Shah, Rahul Kanwal asked straightforward questions related to the Lok Sabha elections, recently held Assembly Elections in several states, the law and order situation in the country, upcoming elections, border security, and more. During the discussion, both talked about how Congress reacted differently to wins and defeats and also discussed the political career of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the context of various topics.
HM Shah did not mince words when discussing Gandhi’s leadership. He referred to him as a “rare example in Indian politics of someone who becomes arrogant even in defeat.” He criticised Gandhi for having “misplaced confidence” and a reliance on external influences. While referring to Gandhi’s repeated reliance on international reports to attack the government, he said, “Why does Rahul Gandhi always look outside India for inspiration? This country has a judiciary, vigilance bodies, and democratic mechanisms, yet he continuously brings accusations from foreign sources.”
He further added that the approach Gandhi has taken raises questions about the Congress Party’s commitment to India’s institutions. He said, “Is it so hard for the Congress to use domestic institutions instead of always seeking validation from abroad?”
HM Shah mocked Congress for repeatedly laying down accusations against electronic voting machines (EVMs). He said, “When Congress wins, EVMs are fine. When they lose, EVMs are suddenly defective. This shows their inability to accept defeat gracefully.” He further dismissed the allegations of EVM tampering as baseless and part of Congress’s broader strategy to undermine the credibility of the electoral system in the country.
Shah pointed out that Gandhi frequently refers to international institutions and bases accusations on foreign reports. He said, “I don’t understand why Rahul Gandhi’s inspiration always comes from outside India. Is this the same Congress that once spoke of Indian self-reliance?” Referring to Gandhi’s recent statements in Parliament and his focus on global narratives, Shah said, “This constant need for validation from foreign institutions shows Congress’s inability to trust India’s systems.”
During the interview, HM Shah did not miss a single chance to make sarcastic comments about Rahul Gandhi, Congress, and Priyanka Gandhi. Here is a collection of some of the comments he made:-
Speaking on Rahul Gandhi’s arrogance in defeat, he said, “I have seen leaders who are neither discouraged by defeat nor arrogant in victory, but Rahul Gandhi is the first in Indian political history to become arrogant even in defeat.”
Roasting Rahul Kanwal & Rahul Gandhi at the same time 🤣
— Trupti Garg (@garg_trupti) December 14, 2024
Mota Bhai at its best 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EFUUeiWZqJ
Speaking on Congress’s election performance, he remarked, “In the last three elections—2014, 2019, and 2024—Congress hasn’t won as many seats combined as we won this time, yet they act as though they won the election.”
2014, 2019 और 2024 तीनों मिलाकर भी कांग्रेस को जितनी सीटें नहीं आई है, उतनी सीटें हम इस बार जीतकर आए हैं। फिर उनको (कांग्रेस) लगता है हम चुनाव हारे हैं।
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 14, 2024
मैं भारत की राजनीति में पहला ऐसा व्यक्ति देख रहा हूं जो पराजय से अहंकारी होता है।#AmitShahAtAgendaAajtak pic.twitter.com/RliU1TEpga
Targeting Rahul Gandhi for taking inspiration from “abroad,” HM Shah said, “Why does Rahul Gandhi always find inspiration abroad? This country has its judiciary, vigilance bodies, and democratic mechanisms, but he keeps running to foreign institutions for validation.”
HM Shah pointed out that whenever Parliament is in session, Gandhi comes up with fresh accusations based on foreign reports. He said, “Whenever Parliament is in session, Rahul Gandhi comes back with some fresh accusations based on foreign reports. It’s as if his only source of inspiration resides outside India.”
Sanghis are C0wards for a reason & they proved it again
— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) December 16, 2024
Home Minister Amit Shah & National media anchor Rahul Kanwal doing Dog whistling about Rahul Gandhi
They don't even have enough guts to say that directly, because they know that they are spread manufactured Lie 🤥🤡 pic.twitter.com/KOKLXMu0TK
Taking a dig at Congress’s accusations against BJP, claiming the ruling party has control over institutions, HM Shah said, “Rahul Gandhi claims that every institution in this country, from the judiciary to the CAG, is under Modi’s control. Perhaps Congress is projecting its own history of manipulating institutions.”
कांग्रेस पर तंज कसते हुए गृह मंत्री ने कहा- ''उनका प्रेरणास्रोत ही बाहर (विदेश) है'' #AmitShahAtAgendaAajtak #AgendaAajTak24@AmitShah pic.twitter.com/F1gv77p8G5
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) December 14, 2024
HM Shah took a dig at the Congress Party for its flip-flop attitude on EVMs. He said, “When Congress wins an election, EVMs work perfectly. But when they lose, suddenly, the machines are faulty. It’s like saying, ‘I don’t know how to dance, so let’s blame the floor for being uneven.’”
HM Shah pointed out that it seems to be Congress’s strategy to keep laying down baseless allegations. He said, “Congress’s strategy is simple—make an allegation, run away from evidence, and create confusion. They have mastered the art of accusation without substance.”
Taking a dig at Priyanka Gandhi, he said, “Priyanka Gandhi says institutions have weakened under Modi. Funny how the same institutions thrived under Congress when they were exposing scams like 2G and Coalgate.”
At one point, HM Shah warned Rahul Kanwal to stay away from Rahul Gandhi; otherwise, his thinking would go haywire. He said, “Be careful about staying in touch with Rahul Gandhi. Too much contact could cause your thinking to go haywire as well.” Rahul Kanwal himself took a dig at Rahul Gandhi at that point and revealed that Gandhi refused to come to India Today’s platform and answer questions. He said, “We’ve been inviting Rahul Gandhi to such forums for 20 years. He’s never come. It’s as if he’s allergic to facing questions.”
Congress, its leaders and its allies regularly target journalists
Congress has a long history of suppressing the voices of media houses and journalists. In September 2023, I.N.D.I. Alliance released a list of 14 anchors including Arnab Goswami, Rubika Liaquat and Shiv Aroor saying the alliance would boycott them. They decided that these were the anchors whose tough questions they were not willing to answer and would only perhaps entertain those anchors who asked Sonia Gandhi whether she knew how to cook pasta. The list included names of Aditi Tyagi, Aman Chopra, Amish Devgan, Anand Narasimhan, Arnab Goswami, Ashok Shrivastav, Chitra Tripathi, Gaurav Sawant, Navika Kumar, Prachi Parashar, Rubika Liaquat, Shiv Aroor, Sudhir Chaudhary and Sushant Sinha.
Not only the party and the alliances it has been part of, but Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also leaves no stone unturned when it comes to mocking, intimidating, and targeting journalists. In November this year, Gandhi hackled a News18 journalist named Niraj Kumar and branded him as “BJP Agent”. The incident occurred during a press conference of the Gandhi Scion. Kumar had highlighted 3 allegations levelled by the rival national party BJP against the Congress. On being confronted with these tough questions, a rattled Rahul Gandhi attacked the News18 journalist and accused him of parroting the BJP agenda.
Why does @RahulGandhi get triggered by tough questions?
— BALA (@erbmjha) November 21, 2024
When unable to answer, he labeled them BJP questions & started heckling the journalist. pic.twitter.com/JZFoKUiyMt
In February, when Lok Sabha election campaigning was gaining pace, Rahul Gandhi almost got a journalist lynched during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. During a speech at a rally, Rahul Gandhi addressed a journalist in public and asked for his name. “Are you from the media? What is your name? What is the name of the owner of your organisation?” Rahul Gandhi asked the journalist. When the journalist attempted to say something, Rahul Gandhi’s tone suddenly became aggressive. “Tell his name, what is your owner’s name? Say it”, he was heard saying as the crowd of Congress supporters around him got agitated and hostile against the journalist. “Is he an OBC? Is your owner a Dalit? No, he is not.” Rahul Gandhi continued as the crowd around the journalist got hostile. He then stopped the Congress workers saying, “No. Don’t beat him up”.
This is serious! This ven0mous clown had literally unleashed his goons on a journalist for not being a Darbari….
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) February 20, 2024
His tone was so provocative & then he acted like he didn't want him to get hurt…. pic.twitter.com/llRdKWvS4F
Not only in India, Congress workers have allegedly attacked Indian journalists on foreign soil. In September, Congress workers in Dallas, Texas assaulted India Today media network during Rahul Gandhi’s US visit. Journalist Rohit Sharma had gone to Texas to cover Indian Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s much-anticipated visit. During the event, Sharma was harassed by the Congress workers as he raised the question of Hindus killed in Bangladesh at the hands of Islamists after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government there. As per the India Today report, Sharma approached the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) Sam Pitroda for an exclusive interview hours before Gandhi was scheduled to arrive at the DFW International Airport. The entire interview went well until the last question posed by the journalist.
As the interview drew closer to the conclusion, Sharma asked, “Will Rahul Gandhi raise the issue of Hindus being killed in Bangladesh during his meetings with US lawmakers?” Before Pitroda could respond to the question, other 20-30 close associates and supporters of Congress and Rahul Gandhi who were present during the interview began creating chaos saying that the question asked by Sharma was ‘controversial’. They assaulted him, snatched his phone, and deleted the entire video of the interview.
In April 2020, Arnab Goswami and his wife were attacked by two Congress workers while driving home from Republic TV’s studio. The attack followed Goswami’s sharp criticism of Sonia Gandhi, questioning her silence on the Palghar lynching of two sadhus. Days later, Goswami was interrogated by Mumbai Police for over 12 hours on Congress leader Nitin Raut’s complaint. Allegations surfaced that Raut’s complaint was based on a manipulated clip, exposing a politically motivated attempt to silence Goswami.
Furthermore, how can one forget the treatment of media outlets during an emergency? During the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977, the Congress Party severely curtailed press freedom in India. The government implemented strict censorship, banning domestic and international news critical of its actions, and expelled numerous foreign journalists. Over 260 Indian journalists were imprisoned for opposing the regime, highlighting the Congress Party’s authoritarian approach to suppressing dissent and controlling information during this period.
The Congress Party’s move to blacklist Rahul Kanwal shows its uneasy relationship with independent journalism and raises questions about its commitment to press freedom. By targeting journalists and media houses that don’t agree with its views, Congress goes against the values it claims to support.
