In a video which has gone viral on social media, controversial journalist Rajdeep Sardesai is heard that journalists behave like vultures.
Sardesai is recounting the December 2001 attack on Indian Parliament where he and his crew were preparing for a picnic owing to a slow news day. Preparing for a feast in garden near the Parliament, he and his team entered the Parliament at around 11 am. Within minutes of the team entering the Parliament, he says they heard gun shots. The Parliament was attacked.
He then recalls that when his colleague asked him to leave, he directed him to suggest the guard to close the gates. He explains with a wide grin that he did so so that no other channel crew could enter. Those days there were fewer channels and Sardesai was excited at the prospect of doing an exclusive story.
He then says how the exclusive story of parliament attack made the team forget the wine and kababs they were planning to picnic on. “It was a great day. We are like vultures. We feed on these moments.” he added.
The video is from November this year where he is communicating to students at St Pauls Institute of Communication Education.
During December 2001 Parliament attack, Sardesai was associated with NDTV. Barkha Dutt, another celebrity journalist associated with NDTV had also come under fire for their coverage of sensitive issues like the Kargil war and Kandahar hijacking as well as her views on Kashmiri Pandits among others.
