Narottam Mishra is the new Kalyan Singh; Barkha learns it the hard way

Picture this. A decade or so ago, your power and position were so influential that you were fixing cabinet berths for fun, sitting in the plush bungalows of Lutyens Delhi. Such was your clout that you used Rashtrapati Bhavan as a place for hosting private parties. However, once the regime changed, you were forced to move from place to place like a nomad and call it true journalism, whilst publishing photos of funeral pyres and extracting ad revenues for your shabby YouTube channel.

This is the story of Barkha Dutt – the absolute worst of journalism in India. From being a cabinet fixer to an ambulance chaser journalist, in a literal sense, the fall of Barkha Dutt has been spectacular, to say the least. Now, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra has truly wiped the floor with Barkha Dutt in a recent interview which has sent the latter to showers.

Mai santusht hu – Dr. Mishra

Reportedly, Barkha Dutt interviewed Dr Narottam Mishra after the Khargone violence where the Islamist mob resorted to violence and arson during the Ram Navami procession. During the 14-minute interview, Narottam Mishra was seen eating his lunch while Barkha Dutt tried to badger him with questions regarding his role in the aftermath of the violence.

The MP Home Minister had remarked that those engaging in stone-pelting and those providing their houses for the stone-pelting activities will be reduced to rubbles. When asked if he regrets using the Bulldozers to turn the houses into rubbles, a stoic Dr. Narottam Mishra whilst eating his lunch remarked, “Mai santusht hu isse. (I am satisfied with the action)”

Not a single scuffle took place in UP – Dr. Mishra

Earlier, when Barkha Dutt asked what kind of due process was followed when pressing Bulldozers into service, Dr Narottam Mishra bluntly remarked it was tit-for-tat, “These (Rioters) are anti-social elements. They make the lives of others miserable. They burnt down the houses and injured several people who were now admitted to the hospital. An SP was shot by them and a Police Inspector was severely injured. You tell me what should be done with people like these.”

Barkha Dutt, still taking the side of the rioters questioned why the police and court weren’t involved in the process. To which, Dr Narottam Mishra, once again calmly replied, “Police and Court would take steps to ensure justice. However, rioters should know the state government can take action too. Those states that did not take action, thinking the Police and Court would do justice, are facing riots. Not a single riot happened in Uttar Pradesh. There were 900 processions, but not even a single scuffle took place. Every action has a different effect. There should be confidence in the government.”

Strong parallels to Kalyan Singh’s “No regrets, no repentance, no sorrow” speech

Dr. Mishra’s statement of ‘Mai santusht hu’ reminds one of a similar statement by one of the tallest BJP leaders — former UP, CM Kalyan Singh.
Padma Vibushan Kalyan Singh in an interview had famously remarked when asked if regretted his role in the demolition of Babri Masjid, “I am not sorry for the demolition of the structure. Nor do I feel any contrition for it. No regrets, no repentance, no sorrow, no grief. Following the demolition of the controversial structure, many regard the event as a matter of national shame but I say that it is a matter of national pride.”

As reported extensively by TFI, on December 6, 1992, a huge crowd of ‘Kar sevaks’ and Sanatanis surrounded the disputed area from all sides. The then Indian Home Minister Shankarrao Chavan informed Kalyan Singh that the ‘Kar sevaks’ had reached near the dome of the Babri Masjid. However, Kalyan Singh, being a devout Sanatani refused to allow the bullets to be fired on the Kar sevaks and rather preferred to resign from the CM post.

Read More: Kalyan Singh, the chief minister who revered Bhagwan Shri Ram more than his chair

Till his last day, Kalyan Singh was proud of the decision. During an interview in 2020, he remarked, “That day (December 6) amid the build-up, I got a call from the district magistrate of Ayodhya saying that nearly 3.5 lakh kar sewaks had assembled. I was told that central forces were on their way to the temple town but their movement was halted by kar sewaks outside Saket college.”

He further added, “I was asked whether to order firing (on kar sewaks) or not. I denied permission in writing and said in my order, which is still there on the files, that firing would lead to the loss of many lives, chaos and law and order issues across the country.”

During the last month or so, riots have taken place across the country on Hindu processions by radical Islamists who feel threatened by the mere presence of Hindus. Madhya Pradesh government instilled fear in the hearts of rioters by going against the conventional, much to the chagrin of the Islamic-leftist cabal of the country. With his swagger laden statement, Dr. Mishra has further piled on the misery of the despicable cabal.