Exclusive/ Arnab's Big Western Media Expose With Swapan Dasgupta | Exclusive

New Delhi: As longest-ever elections got underway in world's largest democracy – India, so-called news publications and media outlets in West are seemingly having a really hard time minding ir own business, with every second supposedly liberal Western publication jumping in – as self-proclaimed “players in Indian elections” at first opportunity y get –  to not only meddle in country's internal affairs, but also in ir desperate yet failed bids to set a narrative that may be well-suited to ir interests. 

So, what is face all about? Former Rajya Sabha MP and veteran journalist Swapan Dasgupta in an exclusive conversation with Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on Super Primetime Max, Tuesday decoded intricacies of Western Media's coverage of parliamentary elections in India, and larger implications of ir relentless interference. 

In an explosive revelation, Dasgupta told Arnab how a leing US-based publication h approached him to write an essay on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP movement while being wary of "presenting or side".

" New York Times (NYT) wanted an essay on PM Modi's BJP movement" as a key figure at publication felt that saffron party – with Modi at helm – was ultimate choice of millions, he said while also highlighting that he was asked "to incorporate some of criticisms".

Narrating episode, Dasgupta recalled how his connection with NYT in this regard was me by an Indian writer who is himself "pretty hostile to Modi".

“I got this email around March 5 from a person who supposedly solicits opinion pieces. y wanted to know what is basis of Modi's popularity in India, and to me it was more like a tacit mission that perhaps Western media hasn't got it right”, he said.

Noting his submission via an essay on ‘Shift in Indian Establishment’, Dasgupta recalled moment when he h received a call from NYT, informing him that publication –  masquering itself as a beacon of free speech – wasn't going to "move forward" with essay, essentially because his piece, per publication, "didn't meet expectations".

Responding to a question on why his submission did not meet NYT expectations, Dasgupta told Arnab that y h "a pre-approved potted version".

essay was referred to a larger editorial team, and that's when supremacy of political line was asserted, he stressed while exposing NYT's anti-Modi stance.

Elucidating on what his essay was about, veteran journalist explained: " whole point is that here was a man trying to get a rounded-sense of what is happening in Indian politics by providing views of someone who is not hostile towards Modi. But editorial board of NYT is so entrenched that its own prejudices [get in way] and [consequently] it does not count it, even though publication h itself commissioned very piece".

Dasgupta furr told Arnab, “It wasn't that arguments I h presented that took m by surprise. You [NYT] don't want your paper to be sullied by an article which tries to explain that Indian politics isn't what a few liberals in India and America tend to think what it is”.

Furr during interaction, former MP delved deep into how his now-gagged essay talks about a regime that has now been replaced by new people who are “more rooted” and are "more vernacular in ir orientation". 

“My assertion was that India has seen demise of an old elite”, he stressed.

"Often in India, we have someone who is a warrior...re are aspects of Modi that remind people about warrior in him", he noted while elaborating furr on excerpts from piece he h submitted to media house.

“It's not merely that Modi is accepted as a leer”, Dasgupta stressed, while highlighting, “Over past ten years, he has grually acquired a cult status”.

Asserting that it's very important for overseas audience to understand that it [PM Modi's rising popularity] is "not based out of irrationality", he noted that it's based on a combination of various things with "performance and delivery" being key factors.

That, coupled with belief that you [PM Modi] are upholding India and you are reclaiming inheritance of India, veteran journalist said.

Lamenting Western media's antics in wake of ir pseudo-liberal approach, he opined, “Unfortunately, I believe that re is a large western audience which has chosen not to regard this in a sympatic manner"

“y do not even try to comprehend it”, former MP said.

When ABC Journalist H Me False Claims, Alleging She H to ‘Abruptly’ Leave India

In April this year, South Asia Bureau Chief of Australian Brocasting Corporation (ABC) Avani Dias h also me false claims, alleging that she h to “abruptly” leave India after being told that her reporting “crossed a line”, a contention which was later proven to be “incorrect, misleing and mischievous”.

Dias was found to have “violated visa rules” while undertaking her professional pursuits, official sources h told Republic at time, ding, “Inspite of this, on her request, she was assured that her visa would be extended for coverage of general elections”.

Avani Dias's previous visa h reportedly expired on 20 April 2024.

In a series of posts on social media platform ‘X’, ABC journalist h claimed, "Last week, I h to leave India abruptly. Modi Government told me my visa extension would be denied, saying my reporting "crossed a line". After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension...less than 24 hours before my flight".

Refuting her claims, officials h furr clarified that Dias h paid visa fee on 18 April and her visa was extended till June end on same day. 

“She, however, chose to leave India on 20 April”, officials h furr disclosed to Republic, ding that at time of her departure, she “held a valid visa” and that "extension of her visa stood approved”.

Dias did not just stop at that. She h also claimed that she, along with her team members was told that her “election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian ministry directive”. "We left on Day One of voting in national election in what Modi calls " mor of democracy”, she h written in anor post on ‘X’, in yet anor visible attempt at unnecessary meddling in country's internal affairs.

Her second claim – about not been granted permission to cover elections – also turned out to be fabricated as official sources revealed that coverage of election activities outside of booths is ”permitted to all Journalist Visa holders". 

“Authority letters are required only for access to polling booths and counting stations. This, however, cannot be processed while visa extension is under process. It is pertinent to note that or ABC correspondents - Meghna Bali and Som Patidar - have alrey received  ir letters”, y h underlined.

‘Political Players’ in Indian Election?

Last month, Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar h slammed western media outlets after y went so far so as to criticise India's democratic structure. 

Western media outlets have been critical of India as consider mselves as political players in ongoing Indian elections, Jaishankar h said at time, ding that it was not case that western media is unaware of democratic values or y lack information. 

“I get a lot of se noises from Western press and if y criticise our democracy, it's not because y lack information. It is because y think y are also political players in our election,” EAM h said while dressing a forum for nationalist thinkers in Hyderab. 

Calling it an “intrusion” into India's domestic affairs, BJP leer h quipped, “It is politics. This is our domestic politics which is going global. How can y decide who should be ruling without consulting us?”, ding, “West actually think y are part of our electorate".

Furr during interaction, Jaishankar cited an article carried by a western publication and gave a befitting reply, saying, “Now I re that article, I wanted to say listen, in that heat my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in best run".

For uninitiated, article carried in Western press h reportedly questioned India's rationale behind conducting general elections “in such a wear” as it went on to covertly use existing heat wave in India as basis to question timing of Lok Sabha elections. 

Emphasising on need to take a stand in face of such attacks and criticism and rankings and reports because “y [Western media] will question everything”, Jaishankar h said, “I think it's time today that we disabuse m and best way that we do that, is by confidence”.

‘Western Media Isn’t Practising Journalism. It's Straightforward Politics'

Earlier, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also echoed a similar sentiment in recent past while asserting, “What western media is practising isn’t journalism. It’s straightforward politics”. 

‘helines in Western publications’ are evident of ir thought process and ir obsession is clear: "y think y are players in Indian elections", Sitharaman h said, while responding to a post on social media platform ‘X’.