News Traders & Interviews

In recent times the one series that comes to my mind on tough-talking interviews is BBC’s “Hard Talk”, especially with its first presenter Tim Sebastian. He anchored the series for nearly seven years. Tim was skilful in asking the toughest questions without intimidating or screaming at his guests. When he didn’t get an answer he pushed the question further but never appeared bent on demanding the answer he “wanted to hear”. In addition, he had a good voice which added pleasantness to the hard questions he asked. In India some like Karan Thapar imitate Sebastian but KT comes out with a scowling face, growling voice and distinct unpleasantness. Others like Barkha Dutt, Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep Sardesai conduct interviews with a pre-set agenda which becomes very evident to the viewer apart from the fluffiness of their show. And if, by mistake, someone did give an interview to C5M Sagarika Ghose, I would have to categorise that person as a moron too. It is in this context that I have assessed some of the best interviews this election season to be of Narendra Modi by Rajat Sharma of IndiaTV, Sanjay Pugalia of CNBCAwaaz and Smita Prakash of ANI News.

To set the record straight, Rajat Sharma’s “Aap ki Adalat” is NOT a typical interview. It is more of an entertaining chat show. The Adalat does not, naturally, make any adverse pronouncements on the guest. Therefore, some media folks cribbing against Sharma’s show (calling it fixed, scripted etc) neither understand it, nor the context. Even Ajay Maken had to fall into the silly crowd and play the fool:

What made Sharma’s show a high-TRP hit is that watching Modi in any show itself is a pleasant experience for most people. He exudes hope, positivity and speaks the way only a man with tremendous commitment, wisdom and work-experience can. Only his opponents and detractors, who will rant even if Modi walks on water, will deny that. Thus, a Modi interview is now a bigger challenge to an interviewer as compared to interviewing some other politician. Even when Madhu Kishwar merely got a “conversational” recording of Modi which was aired on NewsX the typical green media-morons reacted stupidly. It wasn’t an interview by any measure but more like a documentary presenting the Modi-side of the story on 2002 and other issues. The reason for ridiculing that film is that idiots like Rajdeep, Barkha, Saba Naqvi (a frequent flyer on TimesNow) believe that Modi would have told a different story had they interviewed him. That’s how idiotic their bunch is. Modi uses the term “News Traders” for this sorry lot of losers who neither have any morals nor any journalistic principles. Let’s look at two of the recent interviews of political figures; one of Modi and the other of Raj Thackeray.

There may hardly be an interview where the interviewer doesn’t feel “I forgot to ask that question” or “I should have asked that question differently”. Some of it comes out of poor homework. While the overall interview was fair, here’s a quick look at the Smita Prakash (SP) interview and you’ll see how she goofs up on multiple issues (6.30 mins):

00.17 What’s your strategy against Kejriwal? That’s a lame question and maybe it wasn’t worded properly and it got a simple answer from Modi. I’m sure SP would want to think how she could have rephrased it.

00.30 SP says RahulG talks about women’s security and of Gujarat being an offender in that regard. Now, questions like “he said, she said” are dumb because political opponents mostly say stupid things about each other. It needs some data digging before posing such a quote. Naturally, Modi easily dismisses it with Congress having 7 among top 10 state govts where crimes against women are high.

01.45 Congress says Modi spends 10000 crores on marketing himself. This was the dumbest of the lot. It was dumb also because SP is quoting Congress again. Modi tells her not to pass off a Congress question as her own unless she believes what they say. The awful truth that comes out of this question is that media folks don’t really understand what can be marketed and what cannot. They also do not understand the difference between advertising and publicity. When a villager in UP talks about the “Gujarat Model”, it’s because some friends or family members have been telling him stories about Gujarat, through their transactions and experiences. You cannot market a bad product for sustained period of 4-5 years. The Gujarat story is being talked about for many years. “Experience” is felt and related to others. For instance, did it take Sanjaya Baru’s book for people to believe SoniaG was the backseat PM who was clearing files? Most people knew MMS was a puppet without any book or document. They see it, they hear it and they sense it.

05.25 This is not only dumb but even alarming. SP says many feel the High Court may not accept the SIT report that has been accepted by the lower court. After the same SIT report SC did not find any merit to intervene. How on earth did SP or anyone derive or conclude HC may not accept the SIT findings? Such moronic speculation is passed off as a question. Modi went past it but it actually deserved a spanking.

In general, I think SP was overawed with getting a chance, probably unexpected, to interview Modi. She asked him if media would be under threat if he became PM and he explains no editor or reporter has ever been thrown out of Gujarat in 14 years of his CMship. Also, it’s the media darling Kejriwal who has held out such threats. Ironically, SP happens to be a “news trader” and I say that in a good sense. As far as I know, ANI News, of which she is an editor, does not run a channel of its own but feeds news videos to news channels. Their basic business is selling news to news outlets. Maybe she lacks the experience of interviewing top leaders but in the overall context she did a good job. But what one would really like to see is questions on how Modi will deal with important issues; say, like the Naxal problem. A question that asks him to outline in 2-3 points how he will turn around the economy, create jobs and so on. Instead, it is more of the same “he said, she said” type of interviews that the media sells. The other interview of the week simply has to be the worst of the year. Here’s Rajdeep with Raj Thackeray (6.12 mins):

Rajdeep’s interview with RajT came on the back of one already done by Arnab Goswami. Right from the start till the end Rajdeep’s questions are a bundle of absolute BS. Poor body language, arrogantly waving hands and fingers at the guest, jumping out of the seat often are all signs of a moron who has forgotten his job. Not just that, Rajdeep believes RajT is a joker who is just to be ridiculed unlike SoniaG who he worships. I am no fan of either of the Senas but once you have a guest as an interviewer you treat him or her with a certain amount of respect. I have called Rajdeep the “Father of media-filth” and he gives us proof again.

00.15 Rajdeep keeps asking if RajT’s objective is to defeat SS or to help Modi become a PM. Even after RajT says he wants to help Modi become PM Rajdeep keeps trolling him. RajT’s answer isn’t wrong. He says clearly backs Modi and not BJP. It is morons like Rajdeep who don’t get it that RajT may not have backed someone else from BJP in the same manner. Rajdeep keeps repeating “Modi and BJP” are the same. They are in the same party but they are not the same candidate. Clearly, Modi gets a backing that others like Rajnath or Advani may not have received from RajT. It seems this doesn’t go through the head of Rajdeep.

02.10 Rajdeep tells him “log kehte hai”, people say “Raj bhokta hai” (“Barks”). Now what kind of extreme moron would use language like that with his guest? Only a third-rate filth from the lowest gutter would do that. And Rajdeep says “log kehte hai”. Well “log” also say Rajdeep is corrupt, he is a Dalal and got his 52-crore bungalow by corruption. Oh wait, that’s not just “log”, it was one of his ex-employee who said that.

02.32 RajT is absolutely right when he points out Rajdeep had built his own ‘political party’ AAP, which flopped in 49 days. Everyone knows that! “Log” kehte hai Rajdeep was and is a pimp for the AAP party. He was the one who awarded an IOTY to Arvind Kejriwal. His channel was the one who gave maximum air time to AAP. So while pimping for AAP Rajdeep thinks he has the moral authority to question the future of RajT’s party. Naturally, RajT cut him to his pygmy size and put him place for his political pimping.

03.06 On reporting only violence from MNS and not Assam violence against Biharis, Rajdeep is so bamboozled it is simply unbelievable. The moron blurts out “Listen to my double standards”. That is how drunk he is and unaware of what he is uttering.

03.31 Rajdeep says “log kehte hai” RajT is a nautanki and dramabaaz. There isn’t much to say for this except that Rajdeep has nurtured the biggest nautankis in the media; Kejriwal and the Category5Moron Sagarika. Both are ingredients of the nautanki of CNN-IBN. I think Sonia’s poodle already knows this. “Log kehte” hai Rajdeep is a “bika hua news trader”. I don’t think many will disagree.

Those were the two contrasting interviews of the past week. Clearly, the interviewer looks better with Modi because he calmly answers questions. The corrupt news traders like Rajdeep and Sagarika were earlier screaming “Modi doesn’t take questions”. Now they are mourning Modi is doing a media blitzkrieg. They have reached a “saturation” point as mentioned in the interview. Rajdeep and his ilk are stuck in 2002 and their brain died that year. The extra-ordinary claim that Rajdeep makes in his interview is he is not a public figure. That should explain his irresponsible behaviour throughout his TV career. When the editor of a TV channel believes he is not a “public figure” you know he has thrown out accountability and responsibility long back. That one single claim by Rajdeep explains who is a “news trader” and who is a real interviewer or journalist.

   

Make Mumbai A Separate State

"Maharashtra crime rate has increased in the last 10 years. Examine from where the people perpetrating the crimes come from. We have blamed police and intelligence enough in all these years, now it is time to check on the migrants." - Raj Thackeray.

The above statement has been categorised as one of the most stupid ones coming out after the latest Mumbai terror attack. Many people have reacted to the statement with condemnation. The Shiv Sena and the MNS are known for their historically anti-migrant stand, especially in recent times this being against migrants from Bihar and UP. The Shivsena, in fact, was born as an anti-migrant movement (then against South Indians). Therefore, for that reason such a statement from Raj Thackeray is viewed politically. Had it come from someone else and had the term used been ‘illegal migrants’ it would not have caused so much offence.

In an unrelated topic, on the night of the recent blasts on NDTV’s Left, Right and Centre someone called Jerry Pinto (I think it was him) lashed out at Nidhi Razdan. His rant was excessive but the point he was making was that each time these attacks happen, Mumbai is usually being discussed by people sitting in Delhi or other places. He had a valid point which he delivered a bit too harshly. Also, on TV you usually find panellists, even from Mumbai, who usually do not face the brunt of these incidents. Unless you wish to refer to the attacks on five star hotels. The attack on Zaveri Bazar wasn’t just on the diamond market. The diamond business is largely populated with Gujaratis. There hangs a tale.

Most of us would have been in Mumbai at some point or the other for some reason. I can make the safe assumption that the ones who criticise and rant against the ‘migrant’ theory the most are the ones who have never been in Mumbai or have very limited knowledge about the place. I was born in Mumbai. I have lived there. I have worked there and I still spend a good deal of time in Mumbai. My mother’s home is a few hundred yards away from Kabutar Khana at Dadar where one of the serial blasts happened. Let’s examine some facts about Mumbai:

India Today: “ (Mumbai) A 468 sq-km linear city, it is less than a third the size of Delhi's 1,483 sq km. But it is the country's most densely packed metropolis. It has 29,042 people per sq km to Delhi's 9,294 people per sq km, making policing difficult for its 60,000-strong force. Its local trains carry 69 lakh passengers every day….. The buses in Mumbai carry 45 lakh passengers every day….Its coastline is open to attack, as 26/11 proved. Its water pipelines are susceptible to sabotage. The pipelines are surrounded by around 35,000 shanties and shockingly, the BMC does not have a record of people staying there. Security experts have often warned that anti-social elements can break the water pipelines and contaminate the water. The Bombay High Court in 2009 had rapped the BMC for compromising citizens' health by allowing slums around water pipes…… The BMC started a demolition drive after that but could not clear the slums completely. Former IPS officer Y.P. Singh says, "Mumbai is the perfect advertisement for any terrorist organisation that wants to make an impact. Seasonal downpours, which come in the way of effective policing, present the best opportunity."

Mumbai population explosion (Source: India Online) : 29 lakhs (1901), 12.5 Million (1991), 18 Million (2006) and 21 Million (2011)

 

(Rediff): In terms of illegal immigrants in Mumbai, Bangladeshis alone account for between 3.5 lakhs according to a minister and 16.0 lakhs according to Kirit Somaya, a former MP.  What would you say about a government that can’t even get its numbers right on such matters? This is in no way to suggest that any of this population is involved in crimes but the possibilities that some may be cannot be discounted. But it sure is a matter of serious concern.

The migrant issue should be viewed not in the light of politics or vote-banks but in the light of the fact that the city of Mumbai simply cannot absorb any more population explosion. It might also be worth understanding that except for some parts of South Mumbai and some parts of the Western suburbs, most parts of Mumbai have simply become un-liveable. It is not long before the whole city is turned into a shanty.

If you happen to work in Mumbai and have to get to the railway station and catch a train you would have to navigate your way through enormous crowds right through your path to the station. Much of these crowds surrounding most of the suburban stations are either unemployed or daily wagers. And mostly migrants. And yes, currently most of them are from Bihar and UP.  Both sides of many suburban stations are practically informal ‘employment exchanges’. The crowds at the station and on the trains are equally daunting. You need to have eyes in your feet. Add to this the fact that much of Mumbai’s infrastructure is already creaking. The less said about the traffic and roads the better.

A large number of the people migrating into Mumbai every day are not ones who have proper jobs or residences before they land there. They are poor migrants seeking a livelihood to escape the poverty and strife back home. They usually end up with relatives in slums or shanties or on the pavements. In it’s current state Mumbai simply cannot absorb more people without proper jobs or residences. It does not have water or sanitation resources to cater to even the existing population in proper residences.

When was the last time you heard the central government or any state government talk about population? Have you seen any population control campaigns in the last few years? The 1.2 billion talk sounds like something to be very proud about but fact is as the population grows uncontrolled it also increases the absolute number of people below poverty line or lower middle class in far higher proportion than the ones who are becoming wealthy. The government of the day doesn’t really mind! The population increase is clearly largely in its own vote-banks.

Apart from being the financial hub of the nation Mumbai is also geographically strategically located. There are pockets in South Mumbai with the mafia, places like Mumbra and other places like Nalasopara, Vasai etc. which have the potential to become criminal hubs. All of these suburbs have many illegal constructions, slums and shanties.

Mumbai cannot be managed the way it’s been done for the last two decades. Change is desirable and dramatic change is required. Mumbai needs to be a separate state.

1.   Migration must be controlled. I am not talking about migration from North, East or South but migrants without proper place to live in must be curbed.

2.   Remove all illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan or any other country on a war footing.

3.   Illegal slums and newer slums be cleared and those jobless in these illegal slums must be sent back if they do not have alternative residences.

4.   All illegal pavement kiosks, businesses and squatters must be removed. Rehabilitate them while curbing newer migration. If the CM wants to de-congest, start with illegal encroachments.

5.   Despite the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) work to rehabilitate slum-dwellers many of them are unwilling to move. Pack them up if they don’t move and send them back.

In 2010 Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games. In the course of beautifying the city for its foreign guests Delhi cleaned up the city. Many slums, pavement dwellers, shanties, pavement eateries and shops and many illegal constructions disappeared. Where did they go? What do you think happened? If that was possible in Delhi it is possible in Mumbai. Why should we wait for some international event to clean up our metros and clear illegal dwellings?

Following the recent terror attacks many media persons and many commentators asked one of the most thoughtless questions: “If Mumbaikars are not happy with their government’s efforts on security why don’t they throw them out? Why did the South Mumbai voters go on a holiday during election-day? They all had the chance in 2009, didn’t they?”

The answer to that stupid question is simple – Mumbaikars really count only marginally when it comes to formation of the Maharashtra government. Remember, it’s the Maharashtra govt. not the Mumbai govt. There are 288 assembly seats in the state of which only 26 are in Greater Mumbai. That is less than 10%. So what logic tells these pundits that 10% gets to decide what 90% votes for? Naturally, Maharashtra governments rely heavily on the votes from the rest of Maharashtra and not so heavily on Mumbai. This is not to suggest that South Mumbai residents can afford not to vote. It is natural that most of the ministers in the Maharashtra cabinet are unlikely to be from Mumbai. So how do you really get the focus on Mumbai and how do Mumbaikars really get to decide what government they want? Right now they cannot!

When it comes to Mumbai alone it is not the Congress but the Shiv Sena that is in charge of the Municipal Corporation. The current mayor is also a Shiv Sena member. But Mumbai security is not under the BMC. Therein lies a small story of how Mumbaikars would vote if they really wanted a different government. This is not a story the media will tell you or the pundits would even want to talk about.This is also not about Congress, BJP or Shivsena.

P.R. Chavan the CM is now on record saying “Mumbai is not equipped to tackle terror…”. He appears to a sensible and reasonable man. But seriously, with all the problems of Mumbai that he faces do you really think he will do justice to the rest of Maharashtra or vice versa? Isn’t that one reason why we turned Delhi into a state? We did turn other places like Puducherry or Goa into states for administrative efficiency. We carved out Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Uttarakhand. It is an irony of coalition compulsions I suppose that the same guy, R.R.Patil, who had to quit as Home minister after the 2008 attacks was the Home minister during these attacks too. If it were a Mumbai State Assembly I doubt R.R.Patil would even be in that assembly. There is no way Mumbaikars would vote for that man.

If you take any commercial or corporate organisation they would have divided Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra (ROM) into to two distinct territories for their operations. Most telecom companies treat Greater Mumbai as a separate circle from Maharashtra. It all makes sense.

The creation of Mumbai as a separate state needs to be done without the emotion and sentiments attached like with Telengana. The population of Mumbai is larger than half the population of some states in India. It is larger than some countries in the world. The first step to a higher level of security is manageable territories, infrastructure and population with a greater focus by its government. Mumbai needs to be a separate state. 

Note: I have made the best attempt to quote accurate numbers and statistics. Even if they aren't exactly 100% accurate they are meant to serve the context of this discussion as this is not an exercise in statistics.