Finally Narendra Modi skips ‘surrogate interview’ to NDTV

Ahmedabad, 2 March 2014

We didn’t publish a story on this, because we had some hint that it may not materilise actually. And finally, same has happened. BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi will not be participating in the previously announced Facebook talks live event.

The event was like this. NewsLaundry anchor Madhu Trehan was to interview Shri Narendra Modi for ‘Candidates 2014’ series, and NDTV was to show this interview live on its channel.The series was to start with Narendra Modi’s interview on 3 March followed by Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Lalu Yadav and more during the month of March.

Ever since the interview event was declared on online platforms, a large section of Modi’s fans was suggesting Mr. Modi that he should not give interview directly or indirectly to NDTV. Mediacrooks had published a piece opposing surrogate interview to NDTV. Modi admirer Madhu Kishwar had raised a question that how Modi could choose to give interview to a tainted news channel?

Modi’s consent to Facebook Talks was criticized among his online fans for another reason which was the persons other than Modi selected for this series(zero MP party’s leader Arvind Kejriwal, convict out on bail Lalu Yadav, regional party leader’s son Akhilesh yadav etc). Modi’s interview could give a new height and hype to entire series, due to which the other irrelevant leaders could get benefit.

It should be noted that the series was announced as something about Prime Ministerial contenders. However Narendra Odi is the sole declared PM candidate of a major political front.

Modi’s online friends are very happy that Modi has said no to an interview event where NDTV was involved, and small others were treated at par.

Shashi Shekhar’s take on same