Smriti Vs Rajdeep
Smriti Irani and Rajdeep Sardesai have had the verbal equivalent of a boxing bout. In a much hyped TV interview, the Union HRD Minister gave some hard-boiled rejoinders to some pretty tough questions put to her by the veteran journalist.
The first punch? When Sardesai quizzed Smriti repeatedly on whether her decision to visit Amethi around the same time that Rahul Gandhi was attacking the Land Bill in Parliament, was deliberate. Came the counter-punch:
Amethi isn’t Rahul Gandhi’s for the taking. It’s mine as well. Amethi is not only one person’s “jaagir”.
– Smriti Irani, Union HRD Minister
Rounds 2,3,4,5...
Questions on the Amethi Food Park issue, the Land Bill, Modi’s allegedly waning popularity, and the Voyeur Cam episode, were all lobbed out of the park with relative ease.
And what of allegations that she misbehaved with officials in her Ministry? India Today quotes the glib Minister as stating -
No, that’s absolutely wrong. But if you are a person who is forthright, you are bound to generate some murmurs somewhere...
– Smriti Irani, Union HRD Minister
And a question on Rahul’s ‘suit-boot’ jibe expectedly drew venom -
We know last who wore that suit-boot, that somebody was his [Rahul’s] ‘jijaji’. I don’t know whether he is referring to him or somebody else but I think that to reduce very serious political issues to just jibes does not augur well for the people.
– Smriti Irani, Union HRD Minister, reported by India Today
‘Am No Political Cinderella’
Irani’s most cracking comment of the night, though? When Sardesai suggested she’d risen in the BJP thanks to PM himself, she responded with -
I am not a political Cinderella who is waiting to be rescued.
– Smriti Irani
All of this, of course, delighted the partisan crowd on Twitter and FB, some even coined a hashtag ‘#SlaughteringSardesai’ that began trending on Twitter.
However, not everyone was as vitriolic.
Some supported Sardesai’s stand completely while protesting the tag of “slaughter” for a simple interview.
Rajdeep Sardesai, however, walked a tightrope between diplomacy and wit when he posted on Facebook about the interview.
Interviewed Smriti Irani yesterday: while her competence as a minister is a question mark, she is quite the fiery communicator. I perhaps was ill prepared but neither did I expect such an overt ‘assault’ where the interviewee believes assault is the best form of defence.
– Rajdeep Sardesai
Sardesai, however, concluded on an open-ended note, leaving the audience to judge the entertaining “bout” for themselves. Admitting that Smriti Irani had “won this round because I appeared defensive”, he went on to say:
“The line between self confidence and arrogance is a thin one. Did Smriti cross it? I leave you to judge.”
– Rajdeep Sardesai
While Smriti Irani may have drawn first blood, the battle drawn across social media lines is far from over.
The outcome? Could be one hell of an entertaining verbal contest! Your move, Mr Sardesai.
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