Arnab Goswami wants to be a ‘dissenter’, says ‘we will redefine global TV’
The nation wants to know, but celebrated TV anchor Arnab Goswami wouldn’t reveal much! Of the few things he said at a conclave by a right-wing think tank was his desire to be a “dissenter” who wants to shift the centre of journalism out of Delhi.
The nation wants to know, but celebrated TV anchor Arnab Goswami isn’t revealing much!
Of the few things he said at a conclave by a right-wing think tank was his desire to be a “dissenter” who wants to shift the centre of journalism out of Delhi.
“Even if I don’t succeed in what I want to do, it is a risk worth taking,” Goswami said.
“We are on the brink of biggest dissent. Accept it with open arms...we will redefine global TV. Our dissent will not be limited to India.”
The TV personality, who headed Times Now and anchored a prime time news show, has put in his papers and left everybody guessing about his next move.
The occasion --- India Ideas Conclave at a resort on the banks of the Arabian Sea in Goa --- he chose to speak of his future plans was interesting.
The conclave was organised by India Foundation, headed by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and national security advisor Ajit Doval’s son, Shaurya Doval.
Read: Times then and now: Seven Arnab Goswami moments that will leave you speechless
Goswami, though, assured the audience that his future plans has nothing to do with the “right wing” and he will continue to question them on issues such as ‘Love Jihad’.
Hinting at his “digital plans”, Goswami said there are 462 million internet users in India and the “new wave of dissent will give power to fingertips”.
In the process of dissent, he said, the monopoly of money power will be broken. “Money can buy you assets,but not journalistic instincts and the power to put news.”
He admitted to having strong views on issues relating to India and Pakistan, the controversy at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University and gender justice. Interestingly, he shares views similar to the establishment on these matters.
He went on to narrate anecdote from January 2011 when then prime minister (Manmohan Singh) “decided to speak” in the aftermath of several news breaks that his erstwhile channel had done to expose scams.
There were several other editors, he said, but none asked tough questions to the prime minister.
“When I asked them to PM, his media advisor Harish Khare interrupted saying it was not an interrogation of the PM. The PM then pulled out a written response and gave it to me,” he said.
Goswami said he was so upset with the state of affairs in journalism that he wanted to quit the profession in 2003.
Often accused of shouting at the guest on the popular prime time show - The Newshour, Goswami said every dissent has to be “loud” and an eight column front page news.
He questioned his fraternity for not showing dissent - louder - when celebrated writer Taslima Nasreen was attacked in Hyderabad.
Goswami described himself as “restless” who can keep doing the same thing for long. “Playing someone else’s game is not in my character,” he said, adding that he cannot take commands.
“We will disrupt the image that we have an independent media. I am going to dissent against the way journalism is being done in this county.”
