Rajdeep Sardesai has made quite a habit of being scolded and put in his place by just anybody. In one-on-one interviews, Sardesai is pretty much thrashed by everyone, and is often left speechless, pretending to be humble in the face of such rebuttals. How the man has tried to fan communal sentiments using the CAA is something which we all are aware of. Further, a very commonly used term among Rajdeep and his ilk these days is the ‘CAA-NRC combine’. This term is used to further a narrative that Muslims will be disenfranchised using the same by the Modi government.
In an interview with Arif Mohd Khan, the Governor of Kerala, Rajdeep Sardesai again tried to spin bizarre theories. He also spoke to the Governor in a condescending tone, saying that he was a BJP-appointee. The Governor, however, wasted no time in showing Rajdeep his place.
On being asked, “Do you feel you are a rubberstamp? As a Governor, you are a rubberstamp who has to pass what the government says,” Khan replied, “If I allow myself to be treated as a rubberstamp, then this question can arise. How anybody else can treat me as a rubberstamp?”
Rajdeep went on excitedly, saying that he gets a sense that since Khan was a BJP appointee, he had a different stand on CAA than the Left government of the state. Governor Khan then replied, “I find the language you use so problematic…I am appointed by the BJP government you say. I am appointed by the President of India, not by any party. The problem is the language which you use…that language is causing polarization, that is creating hatred in society and that is creating an atmosphere of violence in society. There were protests during Mandal and Shah Bano cases as well. The Government (back then) succumbed to the pressure from the streets, and we all know how dearly we are paying for that now. But you are not ready to learn your lesson, Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai.”
For Rajdeep to even suggest that a Governor’s stand should be in line with the stand of the state government is in itself a big indicator of how the journalist is frustrated with the levels of support that the CAA has garnered across India. Arif Mohd Khan added that since he had taken an oath on the Constitution, it was his duty to defend every law in it. He said that before CAA was passed by the Parliament, it was none of his business, but now that it has been, he shall defend it.
Rajdeep then jumped in and asked if the Governor would support a law which is flawed. To this, the Governor later replied that it was for the Supreme Court to decide and not the people on the street to settle the matter in a manner they deem fit.
Rajdeep Sardesai has yet another feather in his cap. It is only befitting for the journalist to start maintaining a record, of how many people have shown him his place on live television and thrashed him for his silly questions.