In what must be a first of its kind event, popular media outlet Zee News has made a complaint to the Election Commission against controversial cricketer turned politician, Navjot Singh Sidhu and other Congress leaders. The complaint has been made in connection with a shameful incident at a Congress rally in Alwar where “Pakistan zindabad” slogans were raised. It is for the first time that a media outlet showed such commendable nationalist concern and brought an anti-national act to the notice of the Election Commission.
Apart from Sidhu, Congress spokesperson Surjewala and leader Karan Singh Yadav have also been named in the complaint. It has been alleged that the Congress has violated the model code of conduct by allowing the anti-national forces to raise “Pakistan zindabad” slogans. Zee News has also sought a detailed investigation into this incident and strong action against the Congress members. It has reportedly submitted a CD of a Facebook Live video of this incident before the Election Commission. Other videos which were filmed by the eyewitnesses of the shameful event have also been submitted to the Election Commission as per a Zee News report.
It is disgusting that instead of apologising for the disgraceful event, the Congress has tried hitting back at Zee News. The Congress has tried denying that such slogans were raised in the first place. In fact, Congress has claimed that the video of some people raising pro-Pakistan slogans at Sidhu’s rally was doctored. In fact, Sidhu even threatened to take legal action against Zee News. According to Zee News, some Congress leaders have even tweeted suitable videos that do not have the specific part where such pro-Pakistan slogans were raised.
Surjewala also took to Twitter in order to claim that the slogan raised at the rally was “Sat Sri Akal”. In order to back his claim, he tweeted a 45 seconds long video.
Bhakt Channels have taken over prime positions in the Dirty Tricks Department of the BJP.
First ’Fake News Factory’ of @republic & @timesnow spread Falsehood,now @ZeeNews has tweeted an absolutely doctored video of @sherryontopp!
Sharing with you Original Video-
Sat Sri Akal! pic.twitter.com/f8BLNNHrZv— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) December 3, 2018
However, Zee News editor in chief Sudhir Chaudhary has rebutted this claim made by Surjewala and claimed that he had conveniently tweeted only that part of the rally after the “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans were raised. Zee News has also reported that this video of pro-Pakistan sloganeering has been widely circulated in our neighbouring country.
It is not a matter of surprise that such slogans were raised at the rally. And the Congress should not make any attempt to hide it if such slogans were actually made. Sidhu’s love for Pakistan is well known. In fact, on his recent visit to Pakistan, he was all praise for the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and even claimed that it was Pakistan that always made the first move towards peace with New Delhi. He also claimed that it was Rahul Gandhi who had sent him to Pakistan. This clearly establishes the affinity that the Congress has for our terrorist neighbour. Now, the grand old party should not try to change its stance when there is palpable anger about its pro-Pakistan stance. Zee News, however, deserves to be commended for its bold action in filing a complaint with the Election Commission. At a time when most of the media outlets refrain from taking a nationalist stance, Zee News has set a very good precedent.