{"id":330706,"date":"2021-01-31T18:54:41","date_gmt":"2021-01-31T18:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/?p=330706"},"modified":"2021-01-31T18:54:46","modified_gmt":"2021-01-31T18:54:46","slug":"the-nation-knows-and-is-shocked-over-chats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/the-nation-knows-and-is-shocked-over-chats\/","title":{"rendered":"The nation knows and is shocked over chats!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/the-nation-knows-and-is-shocked-over-chats\/26-28\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-330717\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-330717 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/26-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"659\" height=\"376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2021\/01\/26-1.jpg 659w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2021\/01\/26-1-300x171.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px\" \/><\/a>Before we share some of the chats for readers to decide, let us share some information about the latest developments in this case. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said the state government was seeking legal opinion on whether any\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">action could be taken against Republic TV\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami under the Official Secrets Act over his purported WhatsApp chats with former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) head Partho Dasgupta regarding the 2019 Balakot airstrike. Deshmukh, at a press conference in Mumbai sought to know from the Centre how Goswami got access to the sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cThe WhatsApp chat shockingly revealed that Arnab had information about the Balakot airstrike three days in advance of the actual incident. We want to ask the central government how Goswami got such sensitive information about the attack, which is otherwise known only to the prime minister, defence minister, Army chief and few select people,\u201d Deshmukh said. \u201cThe Maharashtra government is taking legal opinion on whether the state home department can take action in this connection under the Official Secrets Act, 1923,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The purported chats between Goswami and Dasgupta mentioned that the Republic TV editor was privy to the Balakot air strikes, when the Indian Air Force (IAF) hit the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, on February 26, 2019. The airstrike was carried out after 40 CRPF personnel were killed in Kashmir\u2019s Pulwama district days earlier, on February 14, by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed group.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Indeed, some of the ministers have been put in a spot after the chats were leaked. However, the Centre has avoided reacting to the chats submitted to the court by the Mumbai Police in the TRP case though the Congress has demanded a JPC probe. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has criticised what she called the \u201cdeafening\u201d silence of the Government, adding that \u201cthose who give certificates of patriotism and nationalism to others now stand totally exposed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">In one of his chats with Partho Dasgupta, the former BARC chief, Arnab Goswami revealed that his sources believed the BJP would fall short of a\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">majority in the 2019 general election. But the NDA, he claimed, would win around 300 seats. This chat was followed by the Pulwama terror attack and India\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">retaliatory strike inside Pakistan. The chats reveal that three days before the Balakot strike, Goswami knew a strike was imminent and that people would be elated. He also said that it was good for the \u2018big man\u2019 in \u2018this season\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>Excerpts from chats:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">February 23, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>Arnab Goswami:<\/strong> On another note, something big will happen<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Dawood<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> No, sir. Pakistan. Something major will be done this time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Good.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> It is good for big man in this season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> He will sweep polls then\u2026strike? Or bigger?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Bigger than a normal strike. And also, at the same time, something major on Kashmir. On Pakistan the Government is confident of striking in a way that people will be elated. Exact words used.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0(The Balakot strike took place on February 26)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">February 27, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Was yesterday\u2019s air-strike the \u2018big one\u2019 you spoke about? Or something more coming?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> More to come. One Pak F-16 crashed\u2014one Indian also.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> You should embed some reporters\u2014would be a coup like CNN in Iraq.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Where our plane was down, they haven\u2019t left Srinagar and we are live from Budgam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">August 2, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Government of India to make Jammu a separate state, Kashmir and Ladakh as Union Territories\u2026means can\u2019t have any political party, and will be controlled by Delhi based Governor for ever. Order in next one week. Curfew will be imposed two days ahead of order. It will automatically abrogate Article 370 and 35 A.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> True?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Sir<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Big one<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Sir, I have set Platinum standards in breaking and this story is ours. Meeting NSA and PMO Monday<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">(The announcement was made in Parliament on August 5)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">August 5, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Operation Kashmir. Live\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">updates from Ground Zero with 10 reporters across J &amp; K\u2026Republic Bharat is getting live updates on situation in the Valley from 6.12 am<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Not understanding\u2014just increasing number of policemen in front of Omar and Mehbooba\u2019s houses\u2014does it mean house\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">arrest? Has any official called it house arrest?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Gazab ka hai din\u2026socho zara<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Lodha Developers moves in\u2026Kashmir is now renamed as Upper Haryana<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Just a suggestion\u2026don\u2019t mix Hindi in English channel. South viewers may start switching out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Because my first burst of reporters landing in Srinagar were from Bharat\u2026today I was called by NSA and asked how I got the news\u2026Doval met me before taking off for Kashmir.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">October 14, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> President: Sourav Ganguly; Secretary: Jay Shah; Treasurer: Arun Dhumal. This really puts Rajat in his place. Has zero clout and now faces inquiry on corruption in DDCA. No need to be worried about him and his sub-standard channel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> But still on IBF Board\u2026some seniors still think he is powerful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> They will know after this. He had announced he is taking over BCCI. Now he looks like an utter fool\u2026the solution is first to stop letting him get away by fudging with BARC system. He is a cheat and now a cheat who even an MP doesn\u2019t give a damn to. Single channel owner with fading image.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>PDG:<\/strong> Why is Uday keeping him in IBF Board?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>AG:<\/strong> Because he told him he will be BCCI chief.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">(BCCI election took place on October 23)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Interstingly in one of the chats on October 7, 2017, Arnab has alleged that Kangana Ranaut has \u2018erotomania\u2019 and is sexually possessed with Hrithik Roshan. These chats are from 2017 and are in reference to the times when the two actors were in a feud over their alleged affair, which ended on a bad note. The chats seem from the time when Arnab Goswami interviewed Hrithik Roshan, where he openly spoke about Kangana\u2019s allegation. The man on the other side (named as PDeeGee in the snapshots) says, \u201cI think Hrithik is dumb and Kangana is schizophrenic.\u201d To which Arnab Goswami replies, \u201c\u2026she has erotomania.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Kangana Ranaut has finally addressed Arnab Goswami\u2019s leaked WhatsApp chats issue. The chats claimed, that she was a \u201cschizophrenic\u201d and has \u201cerotomania\u201d. In the chat, Arnab alleged that she is \u201csexually possessed with\u201d actor Hrithik Roshan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Kangana reacted to a Twitter user who accused the actor of creating disharmony by talking about the Amazon Prime Video series Tandav. Taking to Twitter, Kangana wrote in Hindi, \u201cRohini ji, high-level people do not talk about petty things, but petty people only like to talk about petty things. Have it your way, let us gossip a little. Arnab ji just said what Hrithik told him. I first met him in 2019, and he was ashamed of his 2017 interview with Hrithik. Understand?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">In another tweet, Kangana wrote, \u201cDo you want more gossip? Why did Hrithik say this, why did the relationship sour, how did Arnab become my friend\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">after being Hrithik\u2019s friend, etc etc? These\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">libru gossip mongers have destroyed the atmosphere of the country. Stop sneakily eating murabba and reading everyone\u2019s chats and emails.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">letters@tehelka.com<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before we share some of the chats for readers to decide, let us share some information about the latest developments in this case. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has said the state government was seeking legal opinion on whether any\u00a0action could be taken against Republic TV\u00a0Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami under the Official Secrets Act over his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":330717,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,2205],"tags":[13668,13588,13889,13890],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330706"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/89"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330706"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":330721,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330706\/revisions\/330721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/330717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}