By Vinita DeshmukhV P Vaidik, who is a self-proclaimed well known yet lesser known journalist with allegedly high and mighty connections which he flaunted on every TV channel, has suddenly become a star. His guest appearance on TV, has become so invaluable, that he was snatched away by the NDTV crew, while he was being interviewed by Karan Thapar on Headlines Today. It was so funny to suddenly see two to three men on the TV screen, taking off the `Headlines Today’ ear plugs from Vaidik’s ears and only to put him before the NDTV cameras. A shocked Thapar tried to say that Vaidik had himself committed until 9.15 p m, but he could do no more.While, Vaidik, for the whole of Tuesday was staring smugly on TV screens, clearly unable to hide the glee at getting this mega mileage, broke into a smile now and then on NDTV where the anchor and a couple of panelists were quite affectionate towards him and thought very highly of him. Amen.My point is, how can he say that he went to Pakistan and interviewed Hafeez as a journalist? He could have said that, if, we had read a story by him, even a mundane one, if not a sensational one, immediately after the interview. However, he kept quiet for a good 10 days and then suddenly posted `the’ photograph on a social media network. So, why did he decide to post it so late? What was the motive? Did some agenda go wrong? Were some promises not met to him?If he was a true journalist and let’s say he was intelligent enough to beat the ISI and get an interview with the most wanted terrorist of 26/11 Hafeez Saeed, wouldn’t he have thought it was the biggest coup for him in his career (sorry, he is over and above that career stuff kind of a thing)? Wouldn’t he have asked some incisive questions to the master mind of 26/11? Wouldn’t he have itched to get a story published as fast as he could? Instead, he talks to the terrorist about spirituality and how Modi is a good man, not to be feared. Ekdum unjournalistic; surely a tale of `dal mein kuch kala hei!’If he was a true journalist, he would never have said that ``I’m an Editor, I’m not a reporter.’’ In newsrooms, we do differentiate between both in terms of seniority, experience and wisdom, but having flair to understand and report news, has nothing senior and junior about it.So, if an Editor is interviewing someone, it does not mean he does it for his pleasure and keeps quiet. Vaidik also said that he is an independent journalist and not associated with any newspaper. At the same time, he says he is a very influential person and his stories have been carried by reputed newspapers. An interview with Hafeez Saeed is one story which would have caught the attention of the newspapers he wrote for. And if he didn’t, he could have posted it in online or also held a press conference. He did none.If he was a true journalist, he would have surely recorded the conservation. When Times Now Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami asked him the same, he first said yes, when asked whether he had tape recorded the conversation. A few minutes later, he said, he has interviewed some of the prime personalities of India and had never taken notes down or tape recorded the conversations. Well, maybe. But how could he, if he was a true journalist, even think of letting go such a deadly opportunity?If he was a true journalist, he would not have repeated his bio-data to every T V channel that interviewed him. He got good publicity, media obliged him for free and wasn’t even cowed down by any damn allegation made on him.So, how can he have gone a journalism mission? It is something else. Over to PM Narendra Modi!The opinions expressed in this articles are the personal opinions of the author. The News Minute is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability or validity of any information in this article. The information, facts or opinions appearing in this article do not reflect the views of The News Minute and The News Minute does not assume any liability on the same.
