India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma revealed that he was sent to Tihar jail during the Emergency imposed by the then Indira Gandhi government in 1975. Rajat Sharma also divulged that he was beaten up by the police before his arrest, the scars of which exist till date.
Speaking in 'ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash', the India TV Chairman reflected upon his initial days as a student and the struggles he confronted before getting into the field of journalism.
Upon being asked how his childhood and family was like, he said, “I was born in a very poor family. There was no water or tap at home, so I used to go to a street tap to take a bath. We used to bring two buckets of water for mother and sister. Those were tough days.”
Rajat Sharma on Emergency
Responding to the question if his father knew that he was slowly getting inclined towards politics, the Chairman said that it was the time when the JP movement had started in the country in 1974.
“That was the time in the country when the JP movement was getting started. I underwent a transition after meeting Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel and I joined the JP movement. When the Emergency was imposed, people did not know that such big leaders were in jail and their rights had been snatched. We planned to print a newspaper named 'Mashaal'. One day, when I was doing it in the candlelight, the police raided. They made me sit on a chair and tied my legs to a chair in front. I still have an assault scar on my legs. The next day, they produced me before a Magistrate court and sent me to Tihar Jail. That is a very painful story,” he said.
Rajat Sharma on Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Rajat Sharma revealed that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had told him that he would send him to Rajya Sabha.
“Atal ji and I were sitting in his room after dinner. He said we'll send you to the Rajya Sabha. I said to him that I did not have any interest. I should only get your affection, that's enough for me,” Rajat Sharma said.
Being asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the India TV Chairman said, “Modi ji told me in an interview that people should see where I'm heading to. I go to one direction, and they open fire at the opposite end. He does not need to carry out a yatra. He knows this country. For the first time, such a man became the prime minister who has an experience of being on the streets for 30 years, and 13 years as a chief minister.”
Rajat Sharma on Adani
He reacted to the claims by Rahul Gandhi and Opposition that PM Modi and his government worked for industrialist Gautam Adani, and said that Adani has made himself and the Prime Minister has not made anybody.
“Gautam Adani came to my show recently. After that show, Hindenburg report came. All those people who knew him tell me that if he had not done that show, the public would have been against him. The impression that Rahul Gandhi and others give that Modi made Adani. Nobody made Adani. Adani has made himself. Modi ji does not make anybody,” he said.
WATCH full episode HERE:
(With ANI inputs)
ALSO READ | Rajat Sharma, India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, crosses 11 million followers on X
