A day after senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was allegedly heckled and slapped by a mob outside Madison Square Garden where PM Narendra Modi was speaking, Sardesai took to Facebook to tell us his version of the incident.
Sardesai said "First, Kick and abuse while I am on cam asking questions, then release video selectively. Rule of the mob." He then shared the Facebook status of Achint Sharma, Deputy News Editor of Daily Bhaskar.
Sharma in his Facebook post claims that he reached the scene of the incident even as it was unfolding. Sharma claims that this was 'the venue where Rajdeep was heckled in the morning'. He says that a large group of people had surrounded Rajdeep Sardesai and his cameraman and were shouting slogans. Allegedly, Sardesai was trying to calm the mob down, which numbered about 50 people.
Sharma believes the slogans he heard were not of praise for Modi but intended to heckle Sardesai. Sharma alleges that the mob was unwilling to listen to Rajdeep and then 'the pushing and shoving began'. According to him, the mob called Sardesai names and hurled the choicest of abuses towards him.
Meanwhile, the cameraman was attempting to protect his equipment and also faced the wrath of the crowd. Sharma claims that he personally tried to get the crowd to calm down, but instead a man in orange attire pushed his cell phone into the cameraman's lens, causing Rajdeep to protest. Sharma implies that there were many such people in 'orange attire'.
Sharma then states that along with some other senior journalists, he had to form a 'human chain' to get Rajdeep out of the place.
Here's the full post made by Achint Sharma on Facebook:
There are several videos posted on Youtube about the incident, but each one only seems to show a part of the incident, and a different one as well: Here's one:.
Here's a post and video by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy:
And here's another one:
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None of the above videos seem to show the full incident, though. The incident has caught media attention and #IStandWithRajdeep is trending on Twitter. Many are up in arms against the treatment meted out to Sardesai, but some others have been posting video links and defending the mob as well.
For his part, Achint Sharma clarifies on his Facebook the following things (sic):
Dear Narendra Modi fanatics,
Did I work ever work with Rajdeep Sardesai ? -No
Do I currently work with Rajdeep Sardesai ? -No
Do I intend to work with Rajdeep Sardesai ? - No
Do I hate Modi - No
Do I love Modi - No
He then goes on to state that some people regard anyone who doesn't praise Modi as haters. Sharma adds that "Being a supporter is alright, being a fanatic who has no respect for other's views is not".
