IBN & Raghav Bahl's Motley Crew

One of the media mysteries that defies me is how Raghav Bahl, head of TV18 Group, managed to assemble a motley crew who are not only different categories of morons but exceptionally consistent in their moronery. It ranges from American elections to Israel, terrorism and any topic you can name. Th-th-th-th-the… po-po-po-po-point I’m trying to make is… Why would Bahl be so in love with muttering and stammering (apart from ignorance) which are clearly disqualification for any kind of news reporting or TV? Bu-bu-bu-bu-but you see TV thrives on those who talk nonsense half the time, on it and off it. And when people ridicule them they whine and complain they’re being trolled or abused. Let’s start with one who never fails to provide evidence of his ignorance or his half-cooked knowledge and yet sermonises people. It makes me wonder how much as an editor he inspires those working with him to be like him. Are all of them at IBN7 ignorant like Ashutosh? Take a look:

False nationalism? What exactly is false nationalism? Like you pretend to be a proud Indian and desire India to be a great country but secretly want it destroyed? Umm… I would think Ashutosh is referring to “Hindu Nationalists” and they weaken India so they are more dangerous than cross-border terrorism. This pathetic comment comes at a time when 5 Indian jawans were martyred at the LOC by Pakistan forces. So the witless chap indirectly justifies the killing of jawans stating ‘false nationalism’ is more dangerous. Even if the concept doesn’t exist one has to wonder how ‘false nationalism’ is killing soldiers or anyone else. The thing is, like all of his IBN family, this little one believes dialogue should go on with Pak so he cites the Israel-Palestine “rivalry”. You know, rivalry like the Ashes series or England-Germany football. This is the ignorance that is dangerous to the discourse.

Since the time Israeli athletes were killed in Munich 1972 and many planes with Jewish passengers were hijacked Israel has a policy of “no-deals” with terrorists. Most of the Munich terrorists were hunted down and killed but Israel has never owned up to that story. If someone attacks them, they not only retaliate but hunt down the perpetrators where ever they are holed up in the world. In the case of the Air France plane that was hijacked to Entebbe in Uganda in 1976 everyone was allowed to go except Jews. Israeli commandos raided Entebbe and rescued all hostages with the loss of one of their soldiers. The commando who was killed was Yonatan Netanyahu, brother of current Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Would Ashutosh or any media guy ever care to ask MPs/MLAs if they have their kids in the army? Most people may not know that while the hijacked plane landed at Entebbe, Idi Amin, then President of Uganda was managing the terrorist act with Carlos the Jackal (the notorious world-terrorist) at the airport lounge while playing interlocutor. (Source: David Yallop: The hunt for the Jackal). France later kidnapped Carlos from Sudan, brought him to France and he is now in prison. So what exactly is this Ashutosh blabbering about Israel-Palestine? Had enough? No?

In January 2010 Israeli commandos hunted down Mahmoudal-Mabhouh, the Hamas founder, whose group has carried many terror attacks on Israelis. They hunted him down to Dubai and eliminated him according to reports. Israel does talk to Palestinians under mediation but they aren’t spineless like Indian govts. They do take action when required, so this Ashutosh needs to read history before tweeting rubbish. Is Benjamin Netanyahu or all those Israelis acting under “false nationalism”? Even Yasser Arafat, the inventor of modern-day terrorism, made some amends and received a joint Nobel Prize in 1994, but not much changed. In 1974 the UN recognised PLO as a member and in his first speech at the UN Arafat said: "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand." (He was only allowed to wear an empty holster though, not carry a gun inside the UN). Arafat had warmly called IndiraG his sister.

So fake Israel-Palestine experts like Ashutosh need to learn that Israel and Palestine may talk but Israel does not put its guns to rot. Arafat expressed the same sentiment. It is only when Indian govt has repeatedly ignored the price of terrorism, infiltration and LOC killings that people are asking where the gun is. This time, when 5 jawans were killed the GOI at first even exonerated Pak of responsibility in a devious plot. Talks with Pakistan should have clearly ended after 26/11 but despite repeated attacks and killings the govt does nothing. And “false nationalism” is the bigger danger? I would be tempted to call Ashutosh an unpatriotic person wearing Indian clothes lecturing people without knowing the context of history. Hope he doesn’t ever compare Israel-Palestine to Indo-Pak.

Just as Ashutosh brings in “false nationalism” to target Hindutva, BJP or non-Congress politicians with his tweets, the other big news-misfit in the IBN family wonders if people have become “hawkish” in the Indo-Pak process. Expectedly, after every Pak killing of Indian jawans the candle-burners are on TV or hold debates like “Aman Ki Asha”. Sagarika Ghose predictably held a stupid discussion on whether Indian public is getting hawkish over the killings. False nationalism, hawkish; all words that are meant to ridicule the righteous indignation that people feel at their jawans and fellow citizens being killed (or wash away the Pak killings). Her show provides an alarming piece of statistics that should make every Indian angry. It says there were 57 violations of the LOC, a 50% jump from previous year (and 2013 isn’t over yet). Is this lady even fit to be on TV anchoring anything? Her idiotic topics are not only meant to deceive but a vain exercise to please communists, HR hacktivists and anti-nationals who will condone any atrocity on India and its soldiers. Each and every time! Madhu Trehan at Newslaundry shows why she is unfit for TV with her “Face the echo” show:

(Any answers to Sagarika’s stupidity, Raghav Bahl?) And that ends with Uttarakhand is a tragedy that “God has sent us”. Well, instead of so many debates, IBN can simply conclude jawans too die because God sent them death. Maybe IBN itself is a tragedy that God cursed India with. Oh well! If Numero Unee permanently wants to play the queen can the Numero Uno be left behind? Nope! Here’s Rajdeep Sardesai tweeting everybody takes pride in our army but nobody wants to send their kids to the force. Frankly, there is nothing wrong in his tweet except that he tweeted it when irony was scratching the back of his neck with nails. This was the time when the army guys were in a rescue and relief operation in Uttarakhand. Rajdeep and Sagarika had just finished getting their son admitted to a medical course at the Manipal University. So naturally, people were asking why he didn’t consider getting his son into the army. Still, nothing wrong with the tweet, children pursue their own dreams and ambitions. But considering he was tweeting around the Uttarakhand tragedy, Numero Unee was tweeting pics of her visits to beaches near Manipal. And she finds people are “hawkish” over killing of our jawans? I wonder if Raghav Bahl holds any courses on “sensitivity” for his editors. Or does Bahl permit these editors consider it their birthright to sermonise the nation and behave hypocritically? Having realised his tweet was absolutely foolish and hypocritical, Rajdeep then tweets you just have to be good whatever you’re doing. Swell!

There’s still one more editor of the IBN group who often is the toast of stupidity. His name is Nikhil Wagle! And that’s his primary fault! He’s another sidekick like Ashutosh who continuously tweets anti-Hindutva stuff, anti-Modi stuff without even a semblance of camouflage for his mindless hatred. Like Ashutosh, this Wagle is another editor who never learns despite being slapped many times. In the latest episode he tried another of his foolish tricks with noted columnist Minhaz Merchant over the Pak killings. Here’s the exchange:

All that Merchant stated, as many others did too, that the Congress govt’s response to Pak was basically intended as appeasement of their Muslim vote-bank. Wagle tweeted rubbish accusing Merchant of talking nonsense and targeting Muslims. Is talking about the Congress appeasing Muslim vote-bank the same as targeting Muslims? Mr. Raghav Bahl, don’t your editors ever have to go through any medical check-up?

The unfortunate truth is that all four of these IBN editors consistently spew hatred against Hindutva, sometimes Hindu culture and, of course, non-Congress politicians. In pursuit of their vicious agenda they will even bring scumbags like Manishankar Aiyar or similar gutter-mouths to fuel their venom. To ridicule the anguish and outrage of Indians at the frequent killing of our jawans as “false nationalism” or being “hawkish” requires being blessed with Himalayan ignorance and moronery. This is a pic of the funeral of one of the martyrs, Vijay Kumar:

Rajdeep, in all probability the little one doing the rites will join the army. He will probably never have the resources to join a medical school. So spare the country and keep your crap to yourself. The father didn’t die for fake nationalism. He wasn’t a hawk, he was a soldier. It is usually the poor and from small towns and villages that join the army as frontline soldiers. The discourse indulged in by IBN editors is nothing different from the idiotic statement by a JDU minister, Bhim Singh, who said people join the army to die. Forty former army chiefs, IB and NSA officers have signed a petition to stop talks with Pakistan. One has to wonder if these are also fake nationalists or hawks. That is how out of touch with reality the IBN family is.

So Mr. Raghav Bahl, now that you’ve seen the stupidity, ignorance and mindless hatred being spewed by your IBN family, it’s time you repaired it. Or better still, buy a new family.

Biryanis Over Dead Soldiers

Executive Mansion,

Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

That letter by Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Bixbey was used as the prologue to the movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. General George C. Marshall, on learning that 3 of 4 siblings of a family were killed in the war with Germany, quotes Lincoln and seeks that Private James Ryan be located, saved and returned home. The order to save one soldier for his family is given to a group after they survive a fierce battle during the Normandy landing. Most members of the search party are killed in saving Ryan, including their leader Captain Miller. Here’s how it ended:

It may seem an irony that so many had to be killed to return one soldier home. But Army heads and political leaders who care for mothers who lose many sons to battle understand not only their pain but the responsibility of finding comfort for them. Back home, our Govt seems to frequently rejoice in the death of soldiers. That may be harsh. No, they don’t actually jump for joy or throw a party but their conduct doesn’t reflect the slightest grief for soldiers lost or for their parents and families. Some of these soldiers have very young children who will grow up without a father.

On January 8, 2013 Pak army-men crossed the LOC and beheaded two Indian soldiers, Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh, and injured a couple more. What did some stupid Indians do two days later? Some Indian media crooks, celebrities and their Paki counterparts held an “Aman Ki Asha” debate in Delhi. Who was the moderator? Congress Minister Shashi Tharoor! How’s that for sensitivity? This, while the govt claimed it will not be ‘business as usual’ with Pak after the incident. Shameless people never learn. Voices condemn such actions but when your actions tend to pooh-pooh these incidents, more will follow.

Early August 6, 2013 five Indian soldiers were killed by intruders who crossed the LOC. Defence Minister AK Antony was quick to claim in parliament that these were terrorists and some “persons dressed in Pak military uniform”. This statement was made with prior knowledge that the Pakistani Border Action Team members, regular Pak army men, were involved in the killing. To cut it short, the GOI through the Defence Minister sought to exonerate Pak Army of any involvement in the killings. They were “innocent” so to say. Which country mocks the death of its soldiers in this fashion? It will be hard to find one.

Although I have quoted from the American Civil war and WWII our own history is rich in great battles and great warriors. From the Ramayana and Mahabharata to heroes like Maharana Pratap, Shivaji and many more, we are blessed with those who laid their lives so we could reach this point in time. Maroof Raza, a former army man and commentator on strategic affairs, made some important points on Times Now on August 7. He mentioned that we aspire to be an economic super-power but we don’t learn any lessons. The US and China have become economic super-powers because their political leadership works with and is aligned closely with their military powers. He cited Japan slowing down as an economic power because post-WWII it reduced the emphasis on a strong military power. No matter what the Chinese do, including incursions into Indian territory, their political leadership backs them strongly. In contrast, stated Raza, the current Congress govt has completely demoralised our armed forces.

The Congress govt at the Centre is neither sensitive about the army or the concerns of the citizens and families of army men. It seems pursuit of a pointless dialogue with Pakistan is far more important than the continuous export of terrorism by Pak and frequent killing of our soldiers. Last night President Obama cancelled his meeting with President Putin merely because Russia provided asylum to Earl Snowden, wanted in the US for leaking classified information. Govts that put the nation first act, Govts that put the nation last lie in parliament and then everyone in the govt distances himself from the lie like cowards. The PMO claimed it wasn’t involved in doctoring Antony’s misleading statement in the Parliament. Imagine, a PM who is supposed to himself make a statement has been silent all this while and even distances himself from his Defence Minister. How much of a limp biscuit can one be?

Maroof Raza spoke for ten minutes on Times Now on August 7 and it was like one of the finest speeches I have heard on Pakistan, terror and the Indian govt’s effete behaviour. He asked why Antony or the PM had to wait for the Army Chief to go to Poonch and await a clarifying statement when there are reliable Commanders on the ground who are more aware of facts. Worse, he accused the minister and the govt of being or playing ignorant of Pak army’s permanent partnership with the Jihadis. I tweeted what I heard of his statements.

Raza then went to note how Indian PM’s have mindlessly pursued a policy of dialogue with Pakistan without ever getting anything in return. He noted US political leaders often visit their troops during battles or during peacetime to stay connected with them. Ever seen Indian political leaders ever bothering? No minister or govt official was even around to receive the coffins of the 5 martyred soldiers. When their bodies were received in a J&K base there was none from the State govt to receive them or salute them. It is natural that former army-men on TV are seething with anger as are ordinary citizens. There is hardly any doubt  that our soldiers are boiling over too.

And I have to agree again with Raza when he says the govt is treating the army like a ‘fire-brigade’. It seems the army is only meant for internal peace or rescue operations in a tragedy. While their minister faked statements in parliament the Congress members weren’t tired of screaming “don’t politicise, don’t politicise” the killing of soldiers. Who exactly is politicising the incident with doctored statements? And even when it comes to using the army as a fire-brigade in a natural calamity who politicises tragedies? These pics should tell you enough when the Uttarakhand tragedy was taking its toll:

Everything is brought to you by the Congress and the Gandhis. As if the party paid for the food. Having failed in every other area of governance maybe MMS just seeks to somehow make a peace-deal with Pak and create history. Maybe he even hopes to get a Nobel Prize. Who knows! Even AB Vajpayee was guilty of the same mishandling of Pakistan, often inviting Kargil criminal Musharraf for summits. This Musharraf is a great hero for some anti-national media outlets. The only mistake Raza made is in claiming Nehru could have managed such a peace treaty. Wrong! Nehru had the opportunity to permanently settle the Kashmir issue. He did not. The nation’s citizens and its soldiers have been paying a price for it since then.

And while all this continues MMS hopes to have dialogue with his counterpart at the upcoming UN meeting sidelines. It’s now not only tragic, it even looks comic. No matter how much terrorism or killings Pakistan exports our govt keeps hosting them for cricket and unofficial visits. All this for vote-bank appeasement or may be some secret reason. There’s no shortage of Biryanis for officials of a country which has promised a 1000-year holy jihad against India. I hope next time they eat the Biryanis they see the face of dead soldiers in the food.

Also read: “No friendship with Barbarians”.