Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Jun 2: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra is a familiar face on prime time debates in news channels. Usually, he is seen articulating his views on issues with elaborate arguments and is used to having the upper hand in most debates. However, he was in for a shock when Nidhi Razdan, anchor and executive editor of NDTV, told him to get out of her show in the middle of a debate.
It all happened during the live debate on NDTV on the issue of Meghalaya BJP leader quitting following cente's ban on cattle trade for slaughter.
The debate had five panelists including Sambit Patra from BJP and Sharmistha Mukherjee from Congress. While the panelists were putting forward their opinions, Patra accused NDTV of having an 'agenda'. Razdan shot back, asking Patra to apologise and take back his words, or leave the show.
Patra refused to leave, and the the arugment between the anchor and the BJP spokesperson continued, with Razdan displaying restraint and politely asking Patra to leave, while also firmly sticking to her demand that he apologise.
She also told Patra that he would not have the upper hand in the debate that he enjoys on other channels, and that asking questions did not amount to 'agenda'. Patra, visibly taken aback, kept insising that the NDTV had an agenda which he would 'expose'. Razdan refused to allow him to continue the debate unless he apologised. "It is beneath me to engage in this argument with you," she told him.
The debate continued, sans Sambit Patra.
Reacting to the debate, Congress leader Brijesh Kalappa took a sarcastic dig at BJP on Facebook: "My sympathies are wholly with Sambit Patra in the Nidhi-Sambit fight at NDTV today. How can Sambit or any BJP Spokesperson be asked any tough or uncomfortable questions by ANY channel, leave alone NDTV?! How dare they?! Tough and uncomfortable questions are ONLY meant to be asked of the INC. Was Nidhi Razdan not aware of this basic tenet of journalism in Indian News Channels?!"
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