Chat

Rajdeep Sardesai

Editor-in-Chief, IBN18

Jul 27, 2012 | Closed

On important news developments of the week

Rajdeep Sardesai will discuss the important news developments of the week at 5 pm this friday.

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sir with all due respect why dont u invite Mr R gandhi ji along with Mr N.modi ji to come face to face with shri a.HAZARE ji at your 9P.M.show Asked by: ROHIT MEHTA
My final answer for today: Rahul versus Modi versus Anna. Would love to anchor that debate any day, any time. Can you help me get all three on one platform?!
Why are visiting heads of state and foreign dignitaries taken to exotic locations like Taj Mahal while other areas are neglected like in Assam and attempt is to brush them under the carpet Asked by: Shailesh
For the last time, Assam suffers from the tyranny of distance, be it in among politicians, policy makers, or the media. Would love to open a dedicated north east channel one day, independent and inclusive!
Why not do a program on State of Gujarat and rest of India to find out the true measure of claims of Mr. Modi? Asked by: Prasad
Elections in Gujarat are in winter this year. Promise strong, ear to the ground coverage.
Come on tell me Who will win the elections of 2014?BJP/Congress/Or a new Party that could be in formation by Team Anna as they said today?? Asked by: Sachin
No election predictions two years in advance. A week is a long time in politics, two years is an eternity. Clearly, as of now, the UPA is in bad shape, but will the NDA fill the vacuum, or will it be a new force? thats the big question.
I do not see th same intensity and tenacity in reporting Assam riots as Gujarat. Why? Asked by: Gaurang
The larger message that the Assam riot coverage sends out to us in the media is how poorly the north east is covered in general. Even before the riots, more than a 100 people died in floods, several villages were washed away. Except CNN IBN, no national channel had it as a top story. Most channels do not even have reporters in the north east outside of Guwahati. At least our website has a dedicated north east blog. Our reporter Arijit Sen has won the Ramnath Goenka award for best reporting from the region for the last two years. Yes, we need to do more, react faster, have more people on the ground.
As per Rajdeep Sardesai who will be better Pm Rahul or Narendra modi otherwise continue with Mr. Manmohan singh? Asked by: Sanjeev kumar chaubey
Who will make a better PM, Rahul or Narendra Modi? What if I said neither? best not to reveal my choice at this stage!
Mr.Pranab Mukherjee as President in his address at the central Hall of Parliament stressed that he will hold the office with impartiality. That is expected from the PRESIDENT . Was the specific reference made to convey message to political leaders ?? Asked by: sundar1950in
I believe Indian presidents with the exception of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed who disgraced the office with the Emergency proclamation, have carefully avoided the charge of partisanship. Pranab Mukherjee wanted to perhaps send out the message that once in Rashtrapati Bhavan he will forsake his Congress past.
Was it right to show molestation video on TV? If it happens again will you show video or flash the faces of molesters? Asked by: Prasad
We did not show the girl's face, and focussed entirely on the molestors who needed to be exposed and traced. I would not have put an uncut video on You Tube nor allowed the girl's identity revealed under any circumstances.
What is your take on assembly election in Gujarat end of this year? Modi Mania or Sonia ? Asked by: Mihir Joshi
Modi is a clear front runner in Gujarat. He is the dominant political leader in urban and semi urban Gujarat. See a hat trick of wins ahead in the elections.
In the current political scenario, do you think the PM who is also FM, will be able to go ahead with the economic reforms? Asked by: Dheeraj Gangwani
I fear the PM has put survival above conviction. Once you do that, you are on a slippery slope. The PM will push for reforms but not at the cost of his political survival.
Rajdeep remember your new year resolution to read a book per week. How far have you reached. Asked by: Sunny Peter
My new year resolution of a book a week worked for three months. The last three months have been much more difficult.
Do you think Anna joining hands with baba Ramdev will help team Anna in pulling crowds? Asked by: Amit Kumar
I think Anna joining Ramdev is a major risk. Ramdev is a maverick, also someone who likes the cameras to be on him all the time. Ramdev could well deflect from the focus of Anna's movement. Yes, Ramdev will draw in crowds, but he could lead to Anna losing his moral compass.
You as being a news reporter don't take sides..But Sir You Critisize too much... Asked by: Sachin
I dont play judge, jury, executioner. My role as a journalist is that of an observer, and as a permanent sceptic. The scepticism will lead to criticism at times, but I do not personalise the criticism.
Will Pranab Mukerjee bring back glory to the President's post? Asked by: Priyamvada
I think Pranab Mukherjee will be a textbook president. I dont expect him to do anything dramatic, he will play by the rules. I really hope he will atleast take up one innovative initiative.
I don't know why media has so much attention on Rahul Gandhi, a single statement/move by him become breaking news for week, whereas we have lot more things which needs media attention so that it can be brought on national level. your response Rajdeep..? Asked by: Gaurav Parashar
Rahul Gandhi speaks so rarely, that when he does it makes news. Do we give him too much coverage? maybe we do. But then again, he is being seen by the ruling party as its future prime minister so there will be high interest levels in knowing his plans.
rajdeep can you describe tiwari after he become father in the age of 80's.its shame for leaders ? Asked by: arvind
Look, does ND Tewari becoming a father in his 80s affect his performance of public duties? If it doesnt, then its his private matter. Yes, there is a moral question, but lets not stretch it into character assassination and endless titillation.
Don't you think Media failed miserably in its overall performance?Look what is happening in India's day to day life- rape, molestation,throwing people from train,forcing people to drink urine, burning manager in close room, someone taking Rs 500+crores as bribe in broad day light, not en lighting public about positives of FDI in retail marketing. Why media is so weak in india?Why its not effective? Asked by: Ranen
You want to blame media for whats going wrong with India? sorry, dont agree. I believe the media is a powerful agent of change and that the Indian media, good, bad and ugly, is still playing an important role in our democracy. Lets stop shooting the messenger please.
Congratulations on 5 Lac followers on Twitter! While your popularity grows on Twitter, you seem very agitated by the trolls. How do you plan to engage with your followers who want to have a meaningful and constructive conversation with you? Asked by: K
Maybe a webchat which is not limited to 140 characters is a better way to engage with viewers. Twitter is a limiting medium for meaningful and constructive conversation. And while I can live with trolls, criticism and more, have no time for abuse and unfair questioning of integrity.
News Channel today showing so much of cricket shows and on Bollywood and about movies and feeding it to people like opium ...I dont have words on this attitude of Newschannels ? Asked by: Kshitij
CNN IBN has one half hour daily entertainment show. For the remaining 23 and a half hours, we focus on hard news in the public interest. I believe there is space for entertainment and page three. I enjoy it myself. But page three must not become page one. That is happening in some news channels, but I cant be held accountable for them.
How are you seeing Rahul G role in current Government.Will he help to save Congress image ? Asked by: Sorabh Chadha
I still havent been able to unravel Rahul Gandhi: he remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Politics is now 24 x 7 business, Rahul Gandhi needs to step out and face the real world, expose himself to real issues and speak out on policy problems. Then, we can judge whether he can save the Cong or not. The days of cottonwooling are over.
Rajdeep Digvijay has disagreed with you on comparing kokrajahar to Godhra. In both places it was communal riots and many injured. Both the places the flashpoint were incidents in which the state had no role. Was Digvijay's defence to his party ruled state biased ? Asked by: sundar1950in
I have learnt that comparing riots is dangerous. Each such flashpoint, be it Delhi 84, Mumbai 92-93, Gujarat 2002 or Assam 2012 is very different. At the end of the day, there are Indian citizens who lose their lives (Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, tribals, Dalits dare I add).
Suresh Kalmadi said he wants to participate in OLYMPICS function representing an Asian federation and got a rebuff in court reminding India being part os Asia. Did Kalmadi forget geography or he has already counted himself out from affairs which are INDIAN ? Asked by: sundar1950in
I believe Suresh Kalmadi as a private citizen has every right to go to the Olympics. But legality must be distinguished from morality. On moral grounds, Kalmadi should stay away I feel till his name is cleared in the CWG cases.
Praful patel and Sharad Pawar were in POWER play and hit the shots at the right time to score at both ends ( center & Maharashtra ). Prithviraj chauhan's actions were the trigger were for the face -off. Has integrity of MAHA cabinet been compromised in the bargain ?? Asked by: sundar1950in
I believe in Prithvi Chavan, Maharashtra has found an honest chief minister after a long time. It would be sad if he is forced to quit because he is not willing to compromise on corruption. Maharashtra today is a state of real estate barons with deep connections with the power elite. Chavan is trying to break that link slowly which lies at the root of the present crisis.
Media is more worried about crowds at jantar Mantar but not about the issues raised by Team Anna including Lokpal.. How do you justify it? Asked by: Surya
Please dont shoot the messenger. The media can be the oxygen of publicity for Anna's movement, but ultimately the success of Anna's movement will be determined by the people of this country not the media. Anna was telling me this morning how a majority of those at Jantar Mantar were poorer, working class Indians. Where are the middle class urban professionals who backed him in 2011?
Is the Manmohan's going to Assam can bring some normalcy to the state as it is a common feature of big leaders to reach after everything has taken place Asked by: Ravi
I believe that prime ministerial visits can be an impediment at times when relief work is on. I am glad that the PM who is an MP from Assam is going to the state. But a flying visit is only symbolic. Repairing the lost trust between Bodos and Muslims will take much longer. This is a problem festering for decades, there are no instant solutions.
Captain Dr.Lakshmii Sehgal passing away attracted media attention. Did the Indian Medical Association note that the work of hers as a doctor was the one which got her respect and if ONLY Doctors were like her Amir Khan would have had one episode less in Satyamev Jayate ?/ Asked by: sundar1950in
Why only Lakshmi Sehgal? the original 'paniwali bai' of Mumbai, Mrinal Gore died last week and there was scant attention in the national media. We did have an obit to Dr Sehgal and our Marathi channel IBN Lokat had a three hour programme on Ms Gore. But we need to all realise that there is more to news than cricket and cinema.
Sir,it's always an honour to get answers directly from you ................ Media is saying that Narendra Modi is trying to woo the Muslim voters ahead of the Gujarat elections but is it not that he would win the Gujarat elections hands down and he is looking at the larger picture and doing what he is doing keeping in mind the 2014 elections:-) Asked by: Man Mohan (Nainital)
Yes, I think Modi is trying to reinvent himself. His interview to an Urdu weekly, his sadbhavana yatra, his recent Japan trip are part of the process of being seen as a modern leader, also someone who is willing to confront his past rather than run away from it (as he did when he walked out of a Karan Thapar interview). I was also impressed by the manner in which he didnt attack the Haryana govt over the Maruti issue while in Japan. It showed a refreshing attitude of keeping country above politics. But convincing Muslims that he has their best interests in heart might require a clean, unqualified apology for failing to keep the peace in 2002.
Was the presidential election that happened was an indication that Indian politicians can never be dignified as was seen when Sangma reacted to his loss and even Pranab reached out by doing everything possible so that he wins elections Asked by: Hitesh
I thought Sangma showed little grace in defeat. For a politician who has never lost an election, maybe he didnt know how to handle defeat. But I do wish he had reached out to the victor in a more generous manner.
Dont you think Narendra Modi is the most popular politician in India today.Why does not your channel conduct a nation wide poll with CSDS and present current facts like you did last time Asked by: chinmay
I have little doubt that Narendra Modi will emerge as the NDA's most popular leader if a poll was held across urban India. Whether he will garner the same support in rural and semi rural areas is uncertain. Lets be honest: the era of a pan Indian leader is drawing to a close. The last such leader was Vajpayee to a certain extent.
Don't you think Media should take responsibility and come forward to support Anna Moment after all Media is the most powerful now it should take the social responsibilities instead of enjoying it? Asked by: damitkumar@in.com
Media cannot be a cheerleader for Team Anna. The agitation is being covered, perhaps not with the same intensity as 2011 because the movement itself appears to have lost momentum. TV will reflect what it sees: if thousands gather on Sunday, you can be sure the media will reflect the rising crowd support.
What's the future of NCP and Pawar? Will he switch over to NDA if offered CM's post? Asked by: Raju (Australia)
I really dont see Mr Pawar switching to the NDA. His options are frankly limited given the nature of Maharashtra politics where a united NCP-Cong is their only hope to retain power. Pawar may,however, post 2014 explore the possibility of a third front of regional leaders depending on the results.
Why is the media not stepping up against the govt both state n centre 4 not controlling d riot. Asked by: amarjit oinam
Assam is a complex mosaic of communities and ethnicities with a long history of inter community tensions. Clearly, the Assam govt was caught napping and we have questioned the Cong and Gogoi on this repeatedly. Should Gogoi resign? Thats a question for the Congress leadership. Our job is to point out where the state govt went wrong. But lets also be fair. there is no evidence of state complicity in the violence.
Why has the media failed to properly cover the communal violence in Assam like it did in Gujarat?Is there some political bias involved or is it problem of logistics Asked by: chinmay
There is no political bias at all in coverage of Assam. Its a human tragedy unfolding and must be seen as such. Our correspondent Arijit Sen has been at it for days now, Assam has been our top story for days now. Yes, there are logistical problems in uplinking out of Kokrajhar, and the remote districts of Assam, but we've tried our best.