India Today’s senior anchor and consulting editor Rajdeep Sardesai off the air for two weeks after tweeting and mentioning on air that Delhi Police shot and killed a farmer during the January 26 tractor rally in Delhi.
The channel has also reportedly deducted one month of Sardesai’s salary, though there are no comments from him or the channel on the issue.
Clashes broke out between farmers led by Rakesh Tikait, Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Delhi Police as the tractor rally went off the designated course after breaking barricades as they marched into various parts of Delhi including the iconic Red Fort.
One farmer died in the protests and Sardesai tweeted saying, “One person, 45-year-old Navneet killed allegedly in police firing at ITO. Farmers tell me: the ‘sacrifice’ will not go in vain.” The same was also said on air on January 26th.
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The Delhi Police however said the farmer died because his tractor overturned while they also released a video in which the tractor can be seen losing control before overturning. Within minutes, Sardesai retracted his statement and deleted the tweet while putting out a fresh tweet. “While the farm protestors claim that the deceased Navneet Singh was shot at by Delhi police while on a tractor, this video clearly shows that the tractor overturned while trying to break the police barricades. The farm protestors’ allegations don’t stand. Post mortem awaited.”
Sardesai also spoke of the Delhi Police showing great restraint at Red Fort and ITO area where the tractor overturned.
Sardesai then went on to say, “What we do know is that while the farm protesters that we met insist that the person who died named Navneet Singh was shot at, but the police has provided us with a video that shows very clearly that the tractor overturned.”
NewsMobile tried to get in touch with Vice-Chairperson of India Today Group for a comment, however there was no response. Our team also reached out to Sardesai who did not respond either on the issue.
Delhi Police has filed 33 FIRs at several police stations in Delhi in connection with the January 26 violence.