Rajdeep Sardesai manhandled while reporting live

Shocked and appalled were friends and fans of veteran television journalist Rajdeep Sardesai who was manhandled by some mobsters in Madison Square Garden. Rajdeep Sardesai, the current Consulting Editor of TV Today was reporting live from Madison Square Garden at that moment when this incident happened.

Rajdeep was at Madison Square Garden interacting with Prime Minister Modi’s fans when suddenly a mob began manhandling him and his television crew. Luckily, some other supporters there, stepped ahead to defend the senior journalist.

India Today reported that the organiser of the event, Mr Vijay Jolly, came out and apologised to Mr Sardesai for the behaviour of the miscreants and that the seasoned journalist that he is, Mr Sardesai took it in his stride and brushed it off as an unfortunate incident, saying that things like this happen sometimes when you report live.

A video was posted on youtube showing Sardesai being manhandled but Spectralhues cannot authorize the reality of the video.

Sardesai soon tweeted, “Great crowd at Modison square garden! except a few idiots who still believe abuse is a way of proving their machismo!”

He then tweeted, “Glad we caught the idiots on cam. Only way to shame the mob is to show them.”

Twitter too went abuzz after this incident, with mixed reactions pouring in. #IStandWithRajdeep was seen trending on twitter.

Senior AamAadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav tweeted: “Reading responses to this tweet makes me very sad. Have we Indians hit such low as to defend such an assault? #IStandWithRajdeep”

Sardesai’s wife and senior journalist Sagarika Ghose tweeted: “Some NRIs certainly give a new meaning to AtithiDevoBhava,” while attaching the video that shows Sardesai being manhandled.

Actor and TV presenter Shruti Seth tweeted: “Hope it feels good to have disgraced our country on an international platform today. Well done! #IStandWithRajdeep”

CNN IBN’s National Affairs Editor Bhupendra Chaubey tweeted, “reprehensible that even here in US; fringe elements embarrass themselves and country. Man who attacked @sardesairajdeep should be arrested.”

• About the Author

About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash