Aaj Tak Presenter Was The Latest To Make A Sexist Jibe At Smriti Irani

In its latest promotional ad campaign, India Today news channel — formerly Headlines Today — asks the question: “Has Your News Turned Into A Circus?” The answer to the question would be a yes in case you watched prime time on Aaj Tak yesterday.

For what seemed like two very long hours, anchor Anjana Om Kashyap and Ashok Singhal conducted a “live” interview with Union Minister of Human Resource and Development Smriti Irani titled “Smriti Ki Pareeksha”.

Shot in a town-hall format, the interview was conducted in Delhi University with students and staff posing questions to Irani.

Kashyap and Singhal had ample time and space to question Irani on key policy issues. What they managed to do through the interview, however, was to rake up accusations and controversies that ended up angering either Irani or the crowd present.

Within six minutes of the interview, a gentleman present in the crowd told Kashyap to stick to questions pertaining to the state of education and that that is what the crowd was interested in discussing.

Kashyap, who hasn’t quite been the epitome of grace before, basically asked the gentleman to go take a hike: “Media ke sawal aap nahin taye karenge (you won’t decide the questions for the media).” A pity though because the anchors showed to possess little aptitude in conducting the interview and crowd management. They did, however, manage to make Aaj Tak trend on Twitter soon after the interview was over.

This is what started it.

Singhal, who is political editor at Aaj Tak, wondered aloud and asked Irani why Prime Minister Narendra Modi made her a Cabinet minister: “Kya khubi lagi aap mein.”

The crowd present took offence to Singhal’s questions, few reached the stage later and gheraoed Singhal while chanting “Modi Modi”. Singhal on his part made a weak attempt to clear the air and stated the question was in the context of the “fake degree” row.

Irani eventually urged everyone to calm down and addressed the women present: “You know what an insinuation is?” She then asked Singhal if he would have asked a similar question to a man. The answer, of course, is a big no. When was the last time you heard someone question a (male) minister on their educational qualifications?  Yet when it comes to Irani, questions about her “background” and “qualifications” gain importance.

Importantly, would Singhal have asked a similar question to the PM asking him what “qualities” he saw in Irani to make her a Cabinet minister?

Chitra Subramaniam Duella, Editor-in-Chief, The News Minute, says she found the entire episode repulsive and vulgar but she is not surprised. “Barring rare exceptions, Indian newsrooms have always been dens of misogyny. What this journalist did should have been met with a firing call, but there’s not even an apology. That’s what is disturbing. The second point is lack of solidarity in the media to protect our work from people who are making a mockery of journalism. This brainless section of the media can’t stand that Irani gives back stronger than she gets.”

She adds that while you may not agree with Irani, you have no right to insult her – “that’s the line which has been crossed.”

Anuradha Raman, associate editor, The Hindu, says  Singhal could do with some training on how to frame questions and ask them. She says she found the question sexist. “Much as I disagree with Smriti Irani’s policies and perspective on education, I don’t think the anchor would have shot off the same question to a male minister with a similar background and qualification as Ms Irani. I wonder whether, the woman anchor on the dias would have asked the same question of Ms Irani.”

Raman adds that when it comes to Irani, the media has not been able to get over her “saas-bahu” serials and continues to view her as an “actress” managing the important education portfolio. She points that it’s not uncommon to hear words like mercurial, temperamental and theatrical being attributed to Irani, both in print and television. “The media, after all, is a part of society and Singhal epitomises the misogyny within.”

Irani has been at the receiving end of sexist jibes from her colleagues in the Opposition. Sanjay Nirupam, three-time Member of Parliament, way back in 2012 on ABP News, referring to her career shift from television to politics had said: “Aap kal tak thumke laga rahi thi.”

More recently, Janata Party (United) leader Sharad Yadav on the floor of the Upper House, said, “I know what you are.”

While one would expect no better from politicians, certainly the media could hold itself to higher standards.