NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Indian opposition parties called on Monday for aninvestigation into chat messages from controversial TV anchor Arnab Goswami.
The screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation between Arnab Goswami and theformer Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO Partho Dasgupta aremaking rounds on social media besides also being quoted by Indian media.
The messages discuss the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019, in which 40Indian soldiers were killed, with Goswami rejoicing and writing to Dasguptaabout how the attack has helped his channel. ‘This attack we have won likecrazy,’ he wrote to Dasgupta.
The messages, reported by Indian media and seen by Reuters, are part of acharge-sheet filed by police in Mumbai investigating alleged fixing ofratings by Republic – charges the network denies.
Republic has often adopted positions supportive of the Modi government andGoswami is known for his aggressive attacks on the opposition in hisprime-time nightly programme.
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India’s main opposition Congress party, as well as Shiv Sena, a regionalparty that governs Maharashtra state where the TV channel is based, haveboth called for a government inquiry into the messages.
Shashi Tharoor, a Congress lawmaker, said the messages required “seriousinquiry” by the Modi government.
