There was a time when prime-time debates were meant to inform, enlighten, and dissect pressing national issues. Now, they’ve become nothing more than a cacophony of inflated egos, half-baked arguments, and anchors who love the sound of their own voices more than the truth. If you ever find yourself watching one, congratulations—you’re witnessing the slow, agonizing death of intelligent discourse.
Let’s start with the undisputed champion of verbal diarrhea, Arnab Goswami of Republic TV. A man who claims to be the last bastion of nationalism but is, in reality, the high priest of self-aggrandizement. His debates resemble a battle royale where he plays both the referee and the undisputed winner. The only thing he debates is whether his voice should be louder or deafening. Why invite panelists when all you really want to do is hear yourself talk? Oh, the mystery!
Of course, Arnab isn’t alone in this theatrical farce. CNN News 18’s Rahul Shivshankar, his former colleague from Times Now, at least attempts to maintain some semblance of sanity. His show, “Hard Facts,” tries to engage in rational discourse, but even he often finds himself drowning in the sea of self-righteous party spokespersons. Whether it’s Ravi Srivastava of AAP, some comrade from the CPM, or any other party hack, they all arrive armed with well-rehearsed scripts and a talent for dodging inconvenient facts. Still, Rahul’s saving grace is that he occasionally lets people complete a sentence—an art Arnab discarded long ago.
Among the panelists, a rare gem exists—Dr. Anand Ranganathan. A scientist who dares to use reason (gasp!) and refuses to toe any party line. Naturally, this makes him a misfit in an ecosystem designed for sound bites, not sound logic. He once faced physical threats on Navika Kumar’s debate show, courtesy of AAP’s Atutosh. Irony alert: Atutosh, once a journalist, turned politician, then back to…whatever it is he does now. The man couldn’t even get along with Arvind Kejriwal—a feat in itself.
Speaking of Navika Kumar, as Times Now’s Chief Editor, she at least has the decency to enforce some order. Unlike Arnab’s anarchic free-for-all, Navika ensures that people don’t hijack the debate for personal monologues. Her takedown of Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ extravaganza was commendable. However, like all anchors, she too occasionally indulges in the favourite pastime of cutting off guests who dare to present an inconvenient viewpoint.
And then there are the spokespersons—oh, what a delightful bunch! The BJP’s Sudhansu Trivedi, Dr. Sambit Patra, and Gaurav Bhatia can at least deliver arguments with some finesse. The Congress has Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, who manage to hold their ground with a semblance of dignity. But then there’s Sanjay Jha, a man so eager to be more loyal than the king that even the Congress had to suspend him. His commitment to sycophancy is truly inspiring—if you enjoy watching someone peddle tired, discredited narratives with a straight face.
The AAP brigade—Dr. Muni and Ravi Srivastava—often find themselves in the unenviable position of defending the indefensible. Their commitment to blind allegiance is admirable in a tragic sort of way. At times, they stumble, their arguments collapsing under the weight of inconvenient truths, yet they soldier on, desperately clinging to the script handed down by the party’s high command.
At the end of the day, political spokespersons are supposed to shape public perception, influence policy debates, and articulate their party’s stance. But what happens when they abandon facts in favour of fiction? What happens when debates become shouting matches rather than intellectual duels? In an era where India is emerging as a global power, these spokespersons should be shaping narratives that strengthen the nation. Instead, they are busy peddling propaganda, misinforming the public, and making a mockery of democracy.
So, the next time you find yourself watching a prime-time debate, ask yourself this: are you gaining insight, or just watching a well-rehearsed farce? Chances are, it’s the latter. (The author is former Deputy Editor of Deccan Chronicle)
