Did PM Modi ‘Threaten’ TV9 News Channel? Twitter is Divided

While many took the conversation lightly, Congress said it was a threat to the news channel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 30 March attended the launch event of news channel TV9 Hindi, where his conversation with the editor Ravi Prakash is going viral on social media.

Seen entering the venue of the event, PM Modi said to Prakash:

“Aapne aise aise log bhare hain, jinke blood mein hai humko gali dena (You have people who have it in their blood to abuse me),” said PM Modi to Prakash, to which he replied, “Unme badlaav laa rahe hain (We are trying to change that)”.

PM Modi then said, “Aisa mat karo bhai, unko jeene do becharon ko, unki aatma mar jayegi toh, maza nahi aayega unko (Don’t do that, let them live, if their soul dies, they won’t enjoy),” he said laughing.

While many took the conversation lightly, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter to share the video and called it a “threat” by the Prime Minister to TV9.

सनसनीखेज़ व शर्मनाक!

मोदी जी की TV 9 को खुली धमकी-

TV9 के CEO रवि प्रकाश को आज PM ने कहा-“आपने ऐसे ऐसे लोग भरे हैं जिनके blood में है मुझे गाली देना”।

TV9 के CEO रवि प्रकाश ने कहा-“बदलाव ला रहे है इसमें”।

जब PM खुले आम धमकियाँ देंगे,
तो पत्रकारीता ‘गोदी मीडिया’ बनेगी ही। pic.twitter.com/VBblebgtQw

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 31, 2019

A few agreed with Surjewala.

देश के प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी को सुनिये क्या कह रहे हैं? TV9 के CEO को बोल रहे हैं " आपने ऐसे लोगों को भर रखा हैं जिनके ब्लड में मुझे गाली देना है" मोदी जी TV9 के लोगों का ब्लड टेस्ट आपने कब कराया? अब किसको कब बाहर करवाएँगे? https://t.co/CfxsVNkTpw

— Nitish Kumar Singh (@NitishKumarSi17) April 1, 2019

Delhi MLA Alka Lamba, too shared the video.

TV9के CEO रवि प्रकाश को आज PMने कहा, आपने ऐसे ऐसे लोग भरे हैं जिनके blood में है मुझे गाली देना,
TV9 के CEO रवि प्रकाश ने कहा,बदलाव ला रहे है इसमें,
PM ने कहा,ऐसा मत करो भाई,जीने दो इन बेचारों को... हाहाहा उनकी आत्मा मर जाएगी तो मज़ा नहीं आएगा... हाहाहा!

यानी अभी आत्मा मरी नही👍 pic.twitter.com/FV3WxSIvi5

— Alka Lamba (@LambaAlka) March 31, 2019

A few thought that it was a ‘hidden message’ by PM Modi to TV9.

Hidden massage by Modi to @TV9 CEO Ravi Prakash, guess what he wants to say?? https://t.co/jabpZUzkRY

— Nilay Wankhede (@nilay_wankhede) March 31, 2019

‘It’s a Joke’

Many others on Twitter thought it was a joke and PM Modi was misinterpreted.

Evidently Modi was having funny dialogue with Ravi Prakash. Don't twist the statements and finally Happy #PappuDiwas to you and to your parivar.

— Tweets and Treats (@unreservedmerit) April 1, 2019

Y didn't you interpret the last sentence?.Because it didn't suit your agenda?.Last sentence is the spirit of this whole video.
Ravi Prakash is the most notorious journalists.V telugus know him very well.Famous in leaking offline videos,blackmailing. Sorry u got nothing here.

— Krishna Bhargav 🇮🇳 (@KrishnaBhargav6) April 1, 2019

@rssurjewala kindly watch this video till end first then comment. Modi told Ravi Prakash not to remove those people and leave them as it is. कोई काम तो सही से करो सर https://t.co/GrX0HfDqLG

— Chowkidar Himanshu Deshpande (@HimanshuDeshpa6) April 1, 2019

Some Were Unhappy With Ravi Prakash

A few others thought that Ravi Prakash was being biased towards the Modi government.

Considering all his other channels which are mostly neutral, especially Telugu/Kannada, I didn't expect this from him.
They have enough BJP boot licking Hindi channels up North, Mr Ravi Prakash. You could have avoided becoming one

— Thati Mattiah (@TMattiah) March 31, 2019

Ravi Prakash has no guts to stand against what he said but told to make changes which means he would through out those who criticised Govt! It's a clear threat !!

— Shahil (شہل) ( শাহিল) (@shahil1123) March 31, 2019