1 week ago
Editors Guild Condemns BJP’s ‘Dimaagi Naxal’ Label for Journalist
The BJP shared a video about people who have questioned the government.
The video called them “dimaagi Naxals,” meaning intellectual Naxals.
Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was one of the people shown.
The Editors Guild of India said this label was unfair and wrong.
It said Sardesai had not done anything that justified the description.
The Guild was especially worried because the message came from official BJP accounts.
It said this kind of attack can make journalists less free to do their work.
The BJP video also showed politicians, activists, entertainers and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
The Editors Guild of India condemned a BJP social-media video labeling journalist Rajdeep Sardesai a “dimaagi Naxal.”
The video was shared by BJP Goa on X on August 20 and featured several opposition figures, activists, entertainers and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
The Guild said Sardesai’s actions and statements could not be described as those of an “intellectual Naxal.”
It objected especially because the label came from official social-media handles of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Guild said such attacks undermine India’s democratic credentials and further erode media freedom.
- Who
- The Editors Guild of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party and journalist Rajdeep Sardesai are central to the dispute; several other public figures also appeared in the video.
- What
- The Guild condemned a BJP video that portrayed Sardesai and others as “dimaagi Naxals.”
- Where
- The video was posted on social media by BJP Goa, including on X.
- When
- The Guild issued its condemnation on Monday; BJP Goa shared the video on X on August 20.
- Why
- The Guild said the label targeted people questioning the government, threatened media freedom and undermined India’s democratic credentials.
Editors Guild’s view
BJP video’s portrayal
Use of the “dimaagi Naxal” label
Editors Guild’s view
The Editors Guild said the label was unjustified, particularly in relation to Rajdeep Sardesai, and condemned the portrayal of people questioning the government.
BJP video’s portrayal
The BJP Goa video presented Sardesai and other public figures under the question of who is a “dimaagi Naxal.” The article does not report a separate explanation or response from the BJP.
Impact on democracy and media
Editors Guild’s view
The Guild said attacks from official ruling-party social-media handles undermine India’s democratic credentials and further erode media freedom.
BJP video’s portrayal
The video was posted through official BJP social-media channels, but the article does not state the BJP’s position on the Guild’s criticism.
Key facts
- Organization issuing condemnation
- Editors Guild of India
- Political party involved
- Bharatiya Janata Party
- Journalist targeted
- Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today
- Label used in video
- “Dimaagi Naxal,” described by the Guild as “Intellectual Naxal”
- Account sharing video
- BJP Goa
- Date mentioned
- August 20
- Platform
- X
- Other figures shown
- Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Prakash Raj, Vishal Dadlani and Dhruv Rathee
Quotes
Editors Guild of India
Indian media body representing editors and journalists
“The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the manner in which official social media handles of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have sought to portray individuals who have been questioning the government. In particular, the Guild takes strong exception to senior journalist and former President of the Guild, Rajdeep Sardesai, being targeted as a ‘Dimaagi Naxal’ (Intellectual Naxal).”
telegraphindia.com
“By no stretch can his actions and utterances be termed those of a ‘Dimaagi Naxal’... The development is particularly disturbing as this threat to a media professional comes not from a stray group or fringe elements, but the official social media handles of the ruling party. Such attacks undermine the democratic credentials of our country and further erode media freedom...”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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