What Part of My NDTV Interview Was ‘Drivel’, Asks P Chidambaram

Talking to The Indian Express, he divulged that Barkha Dutt told him the interview was scrapped “despite her wish.”

Former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s interview with NDTV was scrapped on 6 October 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

“NDTV will not air any remarks that risk security for political advantage.”

And with this on air statement, NDTV dropped its interview with former union minister for home and finance, P Chidambaram that was to be telecast on 6 October. The decision quite obviously raised eyebrows on aspects like self-censorship by the media, with everybody expecting Chidambaram to respond.

And he did – in an interview with The Indian Express on Wednesday.

Starting off with the two subjects of his interview with NDTV’s Barkha Dutt, Chidambaram told The Indian Express that they only spoke about the Indian Army’s surgical strikes and whether the demand from several quarters for “evidence” of the strikes was justified.

He added that he learnt the tapes were dropped from Dutt, who said the interview was scrapped “despite her wish”.

He also demanded that the tapes be released.

“In fact, I have demanded that NDTV should release the tape to me so that I can put it on YouTube. They have not responded to my demand.”

On being questioned about his stance on the strikes, Chidambaram does not mince any words to say:

“My stand is quite clear. I said, we support the government. We believe the Army and the DGMO. And whatever pre-emptive action the government of the day will take, as a responsible opposition, the Congress will support the government.”

Adding to his stance on the strikes, Chidambaram said that in his view, the demand for “evidence” is not symptomatic of a distrust in the government, but indicative of a will to call out “Pakistan’s bluff”.

“There have been demands from quarters that evidence must be released. That is not questioning the Army action. That is a suggestion to the government so that we can call the bluff of Pakistan.”

DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh talking about the surgical strikes during a joint press briefing of Defence Ministry and External Affairs Ministry on 29 September 2016. (Photo Courtesy: YouTube/MEA)

Delving into the previous government’s policies on Pakistan, which was that of “strategic restraint,” Chidambaram concedes that it is the government’s right to modify policy with time, like the current government has.

“Clearly, the present government has changed tack. But that is the privilege of the government of the day. The fallout of such a changed policy can only be seen in the months and years to come… Whether Pakistan will change its behaviour or will become more aggressive, I think we have to wait and see.”

Relationship between India and Pakistan has been tense since the Uri attack last month. (Photo: Reuters)

After the interview was scrapped, The Wire quoted NDTV chairperson Radhika Roy saying that the channel is not “obliged to carry every shred of drivel that has now come to pass as public discourse.” She added that as part of the channel’s new editorial policy, it will not “provide a platform to outrageous and wild accusations that thrive only on publicity.” She added that the channel will not have anything to do with political mud-slinging that is happening in the name of surgical strikes.

Responding to this clarification, Chidambaram asks:

“And NDTV said several things. I picked out three phrases and I asked them which part of my interview, fell under those three phrases. One, I asked them which part of my interview contained remarks that risked security for political advantage? Two, which part of my interview was shred of drivel? Three, which part of my interview was bizarre, political bickering…There’s no answer.”

Chidamabaram then makes a larger point asking why some sections of the media are “falling in line”.

Why are you guys falling like nine pins to unjustified demands, if any, from the powers that be? I don’t know, if the powers that be made any demand. But why are you guys falling like nine pins? It’s sad. If the media, which fiercely protests, or used to fiercely protest any suggestion that the media should be restrained – why is it capitulating?

(Source: The Indian Express)