Large Part of Media Completely Compromised on Journalism’s Core Values; I’m Disillusioned, Disturbed

In a tour d’horizon interview, where he addresses a series of wide-ranging questions that often occur to people but which they themselves find difficult to answer adequately, one of the most heartfelt responses from Rajdeep Sardesai came when he was talking about the state of the media today and whether he is disillusioned with it. The well-known and famous television anchor said “large sections of the media have completely compromised on the core values of the profession” adding “I’m disillusioned, disturbed”. At the end of the interview, Mr. Sardesai raised the issue again and this time specifically spoke about young independent small media house journalists who have been raided, their phones and laptops taken, often not returned, and harassed. “I hope someone consistently speaks up for them because they are the ones who deserve all the support they can get.” He added “that leaves me disillusioned and at times feeling almost helpless.”

In the interview, Mr. Sardesai answers questions about Prime Minister Modi’s incredible popularity, the attributes that underlie his appeal, the dominance of the BJP and the fact that it often wins elections it’s expected to lose, why Congress, even in 2024, has performed so poorly, is Rahul Gandhi cut out to be a politician, does he have a problem expressing what he wants to say and Mamata Banerjee’s incredible hold on Bengal.

Broadening beyond political parties and politicians, Mr. Sardesai also addresses issues such as has India become a country where Muslims are looked down upon and treated as second class citizens, are the vast majority of our countrymen troubled by the increasing instances of bulldozer justice, accusations of love jihad, cattle lynching and hate speech, about the Election Commission and EVMs, about institutions and whether they are getting politicized, about Justice Chandrachud and how he assesses him and, finally, whether it’s time for parliament to hold a minimum number of sittings each year in a major South Indian city to help bridge the North-South gap that worries many people.

Mr. Sardesai’s answers are rich and fruitful, gripping and very honest, and always illuminating. I don’t want to steal his thunder by paraphrasing or précising what he has said. So I will leave you to watch the interview to find out for yourself.