Rumors have been circulating on social media that Rajdeep Sardesai, a "journalist," was abruptly fired from India Today. Megha Prasad, a journalist for ABP News, tweeted, "A high and mighty in the media just got booted out," without naming anyone, which heightened the conversation. Netizens quickly started to make connections, though, and many of them blamed Rajdeep Sardesai, the senior anchor of India Today, for his divisive portrayal of PoK at a time when national sentiment is high following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Several posts on X (formerly Twitter) have added fuel to the fire, claiming that Sardesai was abruptly kicked off the channel due to growing internal unease over his allegedly conflicting interests and increasingly divisive views.

The PoK Opinion that Set Off a Wave of Outrage

Online commentators speculate that Sardesai's recent comments during a televised debate about Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) may have been the direct cause. He counseled against pursuing the return of PoK and controversially said that India should "consider formalizing the Line of Control (LoC) as the international border." Sardesai went one step further and warned that India "must not underestimate Pakistan's nuclear capabilities," implying that such aspirations might cause instability.

Online users responded angrily to the statement, accusing him of causing fear and stating Pakistan's Kashmir narrative. The comments were criticized as defeatist and anti-national, especially at a time when India is becoming more united in its resolve to retake its legitimately occupied territories.

Some users commented, "I shudder to think what these guys might have covered up or cooked up before 2014. If this is the attitude now, just imagine before 2014".

Another user commented, "If Nehru lost us territory, Rajdeep wants to finish the job on primetime."

Third user commented, "Rajdeep Sardesai, stop talking nonsense or else the public will give you a good thrashing one day. Sardesai, what are you saying traitor? POK should be given to Pakistan because Pakistan is a nuclear power. Rajdeep, stop being a cheap flatterer."

Past Controversies Involving Misinformation

Rajdeep Sardesai has a history of courting controversy and disciplinary action. After spreading false information during the farmers' protest, India Today suspended him from the air for two weeks in January 2021 and docked him a month's salary. Sardesai had tweeted that police had fired on a protester who had died during the Republic Day tractor rally. The person's death from his tractor overturning was later confirmed. India Today was forced to take disciplinary action against him after the false claim received a lot of criticism. However, the post was soon deleted by him.

What Lies Ahead for Rajdeep Sardesai?

If the rumors are true, Rajdeep Sardesai would be the most recent member of a long list of partisan media personalities to be fired for promoting propaganda while posing as a journalist. Like Ravish Kumar, Abhisar Sharma, and Ajit Anjum before him, he could switch to YouTube, where there are many echo chambers and little accountability, and play the victim and say he was fired for asking "uncomfortable questions." There, free from editorial scrutiny and the annoyance of being questioned, he can continue to offer his increasingly irrational opinions on Indian politics.

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