A recent X (Twitter) exchange between political commentator Shehzad Poonawalla and veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai has ignited a discussion on the quality of civil discourse in political debates. In a series of tweets, Poonawalla raised concerns about interruptions and the focus on noise rather than substance in televised debates.
In his initial post, Poonawalla criticized Sardesai's interviewing style, writing, "Somebody should just count how many times Sardesai Rajdeep interrupted Sanjay Jha with his 'factual' rebuttals & how many times he reserved the 'special' treatment for me tonite as if to ensure that not one point could be completed by BJP for audiences to be heard!" He expressed frustration at the frequent interruptions during the debate.
Poonawalla further pointed out that he felt singled out for interruptions, even after a lengthy opening statement, stating, "Night after night Rajdeep, you sermonise people over sane debates yet you could not allow me 60 seconds to complete my opening statement before you dashed in a barrage of questions (heckling) - which I was anyway going to answer if you had the patience for 60 seconds."
Rajdeep Sardesai responded to Poonawalla's criticism, explaining that his role as a journalist is to ensure factual accuracy during debates. Sardesai said, "My dear Shehzad bhai: it is my job to correct you when you make comments that are not borne by facts. Have rechecked again: in every 'special' session of parliament called so far, the agenda has been shared in advance publicly."
Sardesai also defended his role as a moderator, stating, "By the way, my producer has checked: you got four times as much time as Mr. Jha did. Have a good night, sleep well.. and yes, I hope for a more pleasant, less noisy debate next time: I do like News without the noise!"
This exchange on social media highlights the challenges faced by moderators in political debates, where maintaining a balance between allowing participants to express their views and ensuring factual accuracy can be a delicate task. It also underscores the broader issue of civility in political discourse, with both sides expressing their views on the matter.
Political analyst Meera Kapoor commented on the exchange, saying, "In today's polarized political climate, maintaining civil discourse in debates is a challenge. Journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai play a crucial role in fact-checking and ensuring a fair discussion. However, it's essential to strike a balance between correction and allowing participants to speak."
As the discussion continues on social media, it raises questions about the role of journalists and moderators in televised debates and the need for constructive and respectful conversations in the public sphere. Whether this exchange will lead to more significant changes in how political debates are conducted remains to be seen, but it serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate over the quality of discourse in the political arena.
