New Delhi: The ‘interview’ of Narendra Modi in Newsweek was trolled not so much for being a written interview, now a familiar format expected of Modi’s media tete-a-tetes, but because it was completely question-free. Let alone supplementary questions, it does not even carry questions, so technically is not an interview. As Financial Times‘ Ed Luce said, “This isn’t an interview. It’s stenography.”
Sorry, no questions, only sub-heads
On serious questions over shrinking press freedoms (note that India is at 161 on the world press freedom index out of 180 countries), the sub-head is ‘On democracy and a free press’. Other Orwellian sub-heads are what Modi is said to have responded to, not to a question. The question betrays the problem, controversy or crisis around it.
Consider the sub-head regarding India’s gargantuan China border crisis. Since 2020, 21 rounds of talks between corps commanders and 26 rounds of WMCC talks have been held but the situation remains unresolved. More than 50,000 additional Indian soldiers are deployed on the China border in eastern Ladakh, and a report by a senior police officer posted in the union territory claimed that Indian security forces are unable to access 26 of the 65 patrolling points in the western sector of the Union Territory.
The sub-head reads, ‘On competing with China’.
On the serious charge of a discriminatory regime for minorities being put in place, the sub-head reads, ‘On religious minorities who complain of discrimination’. Modi starts his written response to the sub-head with, “These are usual tropes of some people who don’t bother to meet people outside their bubbles.”
Information and PR Department (J&K)
Just a few days before this ‘interview’ was published, the department of publicity and PR, of the union territory of J&K, had put up an Instagram post hailing the interviewer, Danish Manzoor Bhat. “Watch the inspiring journey of Danish Manzoor Bhat, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir and was honored with Jaipur Foot USA’s first Global Humanitarian Award in Inspire GenZ,” says the video it has put out. Even before the Modi ‘interview’ was published, the PR arm of the BJP-led government was embracing the interviewer.
Bhat jumps in
Bhat himself has a long post on X. He writes, “my dear friends reveling in their trolling endeavors: Yes, I secured the interview with the Indian Prime Minister, if you try, perhaps you will too.”
Bhat describes himself as “Editorial Director, Asia & Sr. VP Editorial & News Innovation @Newsweek and Advisor @RescuingIndians”. The latter is an NGO called REDIO – Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas. (REDIO’s feed is mostly full of Ministry of External Affairs tweets and statements and those of other newspaper heralding ‘rescue’ efforts of Indians abroad.)
Bhat adds, “When indulging in my work, ensure you peruse both the interview and its companion piece—they are a package deal. Before aiming your critiques my way (a privilege I generously extend to you), I recommend a thorough read. Only then, feel free to launch your critiques. I’ll be here. Your opinions are noted, but rest assured, they do not disturb my peace.”
He told News 18, “The Prime Minister was very accommodative, PM opened up as he genuinely wanted to talk to the world.”
