National News

“Mr Gokhale, Stop Being A Troll”, Barkha Dutt Calls Out Bullying By TMC RS MP Saket Gokhale

August 23, 2024
The Commune

A video of former NDTV reporter Barkha Dutt calling TMC Rajya Sabha MP “a troll” has gone viral all over the internet. The video is a clipping from a panel discussion with her and a few others on her YouTube channel Mojo Story, where Saket Gokhale expressed his frustration with how certain media outlets have been selectively portraying events related to a case in West Bengal.

He emphasized that while selective clips and facts have been used to craft a particular narrative, this approach can be misleading. Gokhale also highlighted that the West Bengal government had acted promptly in the case, registering an Unnatural Death (UD) report immediately after receiving a call from the hospital. He pointed out that this was done even before the postmortem, as the nature of the incidentā€”whether it involved rape or homicideā€”was still unknown.

Gokhale criticized a specific instance in which a news report claimed that the emergency room at the RJ Kar hospital, where the incident occurred, had been vandalized. When the Kolkata police called out this report, the reporter justified the claim by stating that there was a punctuation error in the initial statement. Gokhale alleged that careless and misleading reporting has caused significant distress over the past weeks.

The reporter in question turned out to be Barkha Dutt herself! In her further comments, Dutt dismissed the opposing argument as “pure sophistry” and reiterated her stance. She made it clear that she stands by her reporting despite the police’s statements. Dutt emphasized that the police are free to pursue legal action against her if they wish, but she remains confident in the accuracy of her story.

Gokhale repeatedly interrupted and made continuous allegations against Barkha Dutt. Despite her attempts to continue speaking, Gokhale insisted on interjecting, leading to a tense exchange. Dutt responded by asserting her right to finish her point, highlighting that his interruptions were likely due to the uncomfortable nature of the discussion for him.

Dutt then said, “I think you completely reveal your absence of priority“. Following this, Dutt asked him to make his point and that she would do after him.

During the heated exchange, Gokhale accused Dutt of being biased, questioning her priorities, and even indirectly alleging that she was a BJP stooge. He began by sarcastically asking if she was broadcasting the show from Badlapur or Gurgaon, to which Dutt retorted, questioning why her location mattered. Gokhale escalated his allegations, accusing Dutt of ignoring crimes in Maharashtra because it is BJP-ruled while focusing on incidents in TMC-governed Kolkata. He referenced her column, which implied that the Kolkata doctor who was raped and murdered might have been targeted because she knew something sensitive, a claim that visibly enraged Gokhale. He persistently questioned her on this point, accusing her of suggesting the crime was an “inside job.” She then invited him to move on from his “little rant” to the actual discussion.

Dutt attempted to calm the situation, proposing to play a whistleblower’s account of the events, but Gokhale refused to listen, continually interrupting her. As tensions rose, Dutt warned Gokhale that she would have to ask him to leave the show if he continued his behavior. Gokhale, however, persisted with his accusations, repeatedly making the same points. Dutt, remaining composed, challenged him to let her respond to his allegations but stated firmly that she would not be bullied by him or any politician. She said, “I will respond if you’re willing to listen. I have heard you politely and I will not be bullied by you or any politician of any party Mr. Gokhale, Mr. Gokhale stop being a troll “

After Gokhale continued to disrupt the discussion, Dutt muted him, stating that he had an “absolute absence of integrity” and dared him to call the police to sue her. She asserted her stance, refusing to be intimidated, and maintained control over the conversation by muting his microphone.

Dutt firmly asserted her stance by stating, “Mr. Gokhale, you have every right to your opinion of me, but you do not have the right to bully me or silence me, and I will not be bullied or silenced by you.” She also invited Gokhale to a one-on-one live debate to discuss this further.

After unmuting Gokhale, who complained about not getting a chance to speak, he accused her of muting him to avoid addressing his points, which he claimed showed a lack of integrity on her part. Gokhale insisted that he wasn’t there to be a spectator and criticized her for muting him, stating it was unfair.

Following this exchange, Dutt asked Gokhale to leave the show, unable to resolve it due to his continued disruptions.

Netizens praised Dutt for calmly and professionally calling out TMC’s bullying.

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