Rohit Sardana sure as hell seems to be having a tough time in his new workplace, Aaj Tak. Unlike, Zee News, where reporters, anchors and editors come together to manufacture reams of seamless propaganda and pass it off as news, some reporters in Aaj Tak actually gathered some facts that flew in the face of Sardana’s so-called news offering, Dangal. The horrors.

On January 27, Sardana’s debate — perhaps influenced by Dainik Jagran’s front-page report — made claims like the Kasganj violence was sparked because of Muslims chanting pro-Pakistan slogans and pelting stones at those chanting pro-India slogans. Doing what he does best — which is basically be a human walking-talking Rwanda Radio — Sardana asked questions like: tiranga Hindustan main nahin toh Pakistan main fehraya jaega kya? Desh ke andar aise kitne Pakistan panap rahe hain [If not in India, will the tricolour be hoisted in Pakistan? How many such Pakistans are breeding in India?]

As it turns out, according to Aaj Tak’s ground report, Muslims in Kasganj were in fact hoisting the tricolour and celebrating Republic Day. Yup, the tricolour was actually being hoisted in India by Muslims — the horrors multiplied by two. There seems to be no basis in the claim that pro-Pakistani slogans were raised. Reports in ABP News  and The Indian Express detail the events leading up to the clash in which a 22-year-old boy, Chandan Gupta, was shot dead. And while the facts highlight a serious law and order issue, it is hardly a case of “pro-Pakistan Muslims” attacking “pro-India Hindus”, which is Sardana’s long-standing wet dream. 

For a more detailed report, read Newslaundry Hindi.