Between a career-defining speech at the UN General Assembly and photo-ops with X-Men star Hugh Jackman, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi enthralled American and Indian-American audiences. But right outside a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, known more famously as the venue for Wrestlemania and the New York Knicks, a scuffle broke out that deserves some attention. Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was attacked by a group of unruly Modi supporters in an incident that emphatically brings the question over freedom of expression back to the centre of the Indian political discourse despite it happening on the other side of the world.
Sardesai was routinely asking attendees going to the event — their roles as non-resident Indian why they supported Modi, what they expected from his leadership — when a group of Modi supporters started heckling him, even telling him “to go to Pakistan” along with his family. Twitter inevitably exploded, starkly divided along the same fault lines that defined this year’s election: Modi’s supporters on side, his detractors on the other.
Video evidence suggests an incident slightly less divisive. The group of supporters evidently came looking for a fight, and were unprovoked. But in the context of a running debate over India’s future, context is key. Secular and liberal Indians have always complained about Modi’s authoritarian style of rule that crushes dissent, even within his own party. That Gujarat, Modi’s home state, has strict censorship laws, they fear for an India in which Modi’s critics are silenced. Modi supporters, on the other hand, see these fears as part of a larger, conspiratorial campaign to malign a man and a movement that has mass appeal and enduring popularity, denying, among others, the right of Hindus to act and speak as Hindus.
Liberals see the incident as part of a larger trend of an emboldened, dominating, even fascist group to silence anyone who opposes Hindutva; Modi supporters see it as yet another attempt to malign the prime minister under the guise of free speech. Modi, despite his Hindutva background, was keen to move on; he selected a close aide to call on Sardesai expressing his regrets. Modi must be aware that some of his supporters are creating a sectarian image of him that he was keen to distance himself from during the campaign. Despite his landslide victory, he needs to do far more to convince Indians otherwise.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (28)
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Youtube is banned in Pakistan ... and so is proper education... and so is logical thinking...
To All ... Havent you all forgotten that Youtube is banned in Pakistan ??? Ignorance thy author galores ...to infinity ...
@Another Indian: you are a minority and there is nothing wrong in what she said...
Dear author, please do thorough research on any subject before writing about it. I am sure you have not watched the full video.
@Another Indian - What is wrong with her view? I completly agree with her. Any Indian living in India would know most of them believe in pluralism and equal rights for all. Are you genuinely Indian or merely posing as one?
This is the real face of US' dual-faced,double-standard and hypocritical policies regarding muslim and non-muslim countries.On the first hand US' court has issued the summons against Modi for Gujrat's killings and on the other hand US' president welcoming Modi very warmly and cordially and making it sure that US shall India's proposals in UN Security Council and shall full support to make India the permanent member of UN Security Council.How long Pakistani leaders shall be fooled and deceived by the hypocrite US' leadership and when they shall wake up from the dreams of carelessness and shall see the real face and inner intentions of US?????
Watched the full video. Rajdeep Sardesai was the first to get physical. He lunged at a person who just defended himself by pushing Rajdeep away. How does that translate to "Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was attacked"? Strange world we live in where up is down and down is up.
Modi has developed a cult among his supporters. They can't accept any criticism of him. Modi can do no wrong, has no fault and is a miracle worker. The Economist magazine of U.K. had mild criticism of Modi and also disclosed that Indian space venture to Mars had lot of support from US agency NASA. Indians went nuts and hurled abusive language in their response. Luckily Economist reporter wasn't physically present. In election campaign too there used to be lot of scuffle between Modi supporters and his critics. Reminds me of Hitler's supporters in 1930s. Keep an eye where India is headed.
I have seen the video and I am surprised they did not call the cops on Rajdeep and have him arrested for assault. He would not only have been convicted, he would be barred from US for life.
@Meghana: You should speak for yourself as YOURSELF alone and nobody else. You do not represent any Indian other than yourself. So, STOP USING "WE" in your post!!!!
Moreover, you did not conduct any referendum to find out who is "secular" or not, neither are you to decide who is one. Please post as a PERSONAL OPINION and stop imposing your Marxist crap on all Indians.
Dear Writer,
First of all do not write wrong things and believer people will accept it. At least Indians will not. Pakis will feel very happy reading this. PM Modi today represents a strong leader which the youth and majority of the Indians want today to take them to the top leadership position. People like Rajdeep and other journalist cannot see the rise of this man so fast and want him to be down and out to make their Congress bosses happy. Moreover today the real fight is betrween the Media houses divided as pro-Modi & anti-Modi.Times Now, India TV etc are seen as pro-Modi and Aaj Tak, Sahara etc are seen as anti-Modi. The anti-Modi camp is still trying to harp on the 2002 communal riouts in Gujrat to discredit Modi whereas pro-Modi cannels are asking people to move forward now that all investigative agencies have given Modi clean chit and see the developement in Gujrat and trust him to do the same in India. Even today's muslim youth don't want to live in the past and want to move forward like others and support Modi full heartedly. The tremendous confidence people of Indias have posed in Modi is tremendous and will not allow anyone to derail him in his mission to take India Fast Forward by saying anything bad or writing any wrong about him, and that's not intolerence. That's Faith.
Seculars complaining? FYI 80% of india are secular, 5% RSS and 5% other other religious Bhakts & 10% don't care which way country swings. 1. We don't view world through religious goggles. There's a reason why post independence secular party has mostly won in India and not right wing. But this time it's Modi Sarkar. People have voted him for vikas(development). His qualities - efficient, doer, Nationalistic, ascetic, non-currupt, cuts red tape. Supporting good governance doesn't make one non secular. i am tired of voting non performing headless looting dynasty for emptiest time.
There was an election last week in many states and bjp lost many of them because they raked religion there. They lost their seats. Signal was simple talk development we vote. Talk religion, create disharmony because of actions of few rotten heads, we vote you out. That's our commitment to secularism and pluralism. Do not judge us, you do not know us to say we are silencing seculars and liberals when I am part of it. 2. Adani sympathised when rajdeep told him his twisted version. He said modi fan attacked him.He smartly omitted and cut why and who started with physical and verbal blows. Btw Indian American went to meet their Indian PM for varied reason ni one can name tag them. But He made it as "fan" issue. Adani replied to his version no PM of any country would ever like his fan to heckle other person. but Rajdeep's breaking news was Modi was upset and didn't like it. Reminds me of Hamid Mir dehati controversy. Anyway Adani has rubbished and cleared the air. Don't expect support for such journalists who are excellent twisters, wine and dine with Mafia congress and communists for personal interviews, kickbacks, and represent their point of view on tv. Kudos to indian American community for standing up against such wannabe aristrocratic brute.
Well done by Express Tribune management for publicing bias report as Mr Desai want his favour answer from all also he try to take such answer from law maker of US too, also he try to spill beans about one man can change nation , also Gujarat riots all that question is irrevalent at that time but he is man with opposing modi but want answer in his favour and if you look the whole full video he start fighting and you can hear call police off course you and your nation has right to oppose Modi but pl donot publised story with out verifying fact do not losse your credit of neutral image
@ictejff: Dear Sir, I think what you have written is exactly the type of intolerance we are talking about. Read again what have you written "Rajdeep represents the pathetic morons of Indian media that are frustrated because of rise of Mr. Modi and frustration is coming out slowly… I urge everyone to disassociate themselves from anything that has to do with Rajdeep..I have started this by unsubscribing all India Today news channels and making sure that no news paper published by India Today group enters my house."
I am ashamed and hope you are not an Indian.
Coming from a country which was under military rule for more than half its existence, it takes the cake.
Dear author how exactly are you speaking on behalf of Indians-liberals-seculars & them having different point of view? I am all three and totally support my PM, voted for his economic vision he has for the country. The view you are representing are of elite class-left leaning (pro currupt congress,communist) So called intellectuals who, what so ever have no touch with ground reality and spend time morning in Paris spas and nights in London hotels. But have an opinion and judgements on who and how we vote. It's we who face day to day problems of bad system, delay,curruption,bureaucracy not them. Did you even see the whole video instead of edited version on rajdeeps Twitter? See the whole exposed video by fellow by stander on road. Do tell me how a journalist who is supposed to be impartial provoke American Indians, you are classless, where ever you go rich or poor you'll still be classless? Why tell them I know you are here only for photo op with Obama modi isn't it? (Sarcastic llaff). 3. don't you think the PM is speaking for one community?. Please do tell what statement PM made was for one community when he spoke for all 125crore Indians in Madison square? what right Rajdeep had to insult racial, class slurs, act elite and put them down and what right he had to attack someone. Is this journalism? So you attack we can't defend our selfs? It was the people who calmed it down and told to call police and arrest Rajdeep. It was Rajdeep himself who wanted to create controversy and come in news after he lost his post and now does meagre jobs. Nice way to climb back ladder.
Modi is Prime Minister of India for next 5 years, possibly more. No amount of shouting can change this reality, learn to live with it. I find it amusing how Pakistani columnists and bloggers are so worried about future of India under Modi. Let me assure you, India is not looking down a precipice, that has space has been taken over by Pakistan. No matter what and who the Prime Minister is, India is and ALLWAYS be better then Pakistan. This is because even our worst politicians are far better best of Pakistan.
Be it Sardesai, Barkha, Nidhi, Maya Mirchandani, Karan Thapar, Kumar Ketkar, N Ram or Sidharth Vardarajan, these folks are struggling to deal with the new reality of Modi and his ever growing popularity. Most from the above list, do not travel the country side and pontificate in the confines of AC TV studios. Endangered species, is what is apt term for these creatures.
Saim- We are based in Pakistan,how are we concerned about Modi and how he deals with his critic. Lets focus our energy in our country and not look out.
Salim
And anyone who has criticized the journalist for asking unsavory or provocative questions need their brain checked.
A journalist's job is to ask question. Doesn't matter how irritating it is or how inconvenient it is. There is absolutely no limit to asking questions (barring privacy).
he selected a close aide to call on Sardesai expressing his regrets. Nope. Did not happen. The so called close aide denied such an expression of regret. After all, why should Modi regret for Sardesai getting what he deserved? Do some fact checks at least if you wish to be called a journalist.
Is this guy really a reporter or read news?. Adani has ctaegorically denied meeting Rajdeep on behalf of PM and here this fool despite a statement made by Adani is quoting that PM expresses regret. Regret for what? Rajdeep kicked the man and Rajdeep was not asking so called routine normal questions. Stop making yourself fool and consioder other as fool
The Criticism is not in his dictionary.It is only his right to criticise others do not have that right.Those who criticised him or crossed his paths are systematically sidelined,arrested and punished.I do want a strong and stable government at centre but not under Mr.Mr. Mody but statesman like Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayiji.
It seems that trying to learn the entire truth, after it is out in the open, is not something you seek.
The video you are harping about is a carefully edited one to show Rajdeep as a victim. If you see the complete video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_3G71UT5hY
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=477128325760154
You will be better placed to formulate an opinion before jumping to wrtie an article in media.
PS: The counter is a fact-based, so I request you to accept it.
I wudn't delve too much about a journalist being heckled, but have u seen the full clip thats on youtube/facebook. Whatever the provocation shouted out to rajdeep/his family, he was the one who raised his hand first. Abusing a person or his family, whatever their ideology might be, can never be justified, but neither can be playing the victim card when u started the scuffle. Secondly, I dont know when u wrote this piece or whether u did do some background check for the same, but ur statement "he selected a close aide to call on Sardesai expressing his regrets" is wrong. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gautam-adani-denies-speaking-on-behalf-of-pm-narendra-modi-to-journalist-rajdeep-sardesai/articleshow/43895728.cms
Thirdly, how do u define a "Secular and liberal" Indian. I voted against modi in the may LS elections, but i have no issues or complainants with "Modi’s authoritarian style of rule that crushes dissent, even within his own party". What wud u classify me as?
P.S. I will be cleaning toilets and sweeping the street on Oct 2nd. Please expect a delayed response from me(another authoritarian order, but again, i have no issues with it).
This is what happens when an ill informed pakistani rights an article about things he should not be concerned about in the first place.
Please research more about this issue...It was Rajdeep who abused and attacked the NRI first(Video for this is available all over internet and I am not going to spoon feed)
Rajdeep represents the pathetic morons of Indian media that are frustrated because of rise of Mr. Modi and frustration is coming out slowly...
I urge everyone to disassociate themselves from anything that has to do with Rajdeep..I have started this by unsubscribing all India Today news channels and making sure that no news paper published by India Today group enters my house.
Sir, did you really watch the video? Certainly looks like you didn't!