Hamid Mir alleges Arnab Goswami pays Pakistani panelists to ‘Abuse India’ in TV debates
New Delhi: Prominent Pakistani Journalist Hamid Mir has alleged that Indian television anchor Arnab Goswami pays Pakistani panelists to "abuse India" during debates on his channel to boost Television Rating Points (TRPs). Mir made these claims in an interview with Pakistan-based digital news outlet The Current.
During the interview, Mir recounted his early interactions with Goswami. “When Arnab Goswami was working with NDTV, around 20–22 years ago, I appeared on his show in New Delhi for the first time. Back then, he was just a journalist. After leaving NDTV and joining Times Now, he would still invite me to his shows. He used to call me and say, ‘Hamid bhai,’ and anyone who calls me ‘bhai,’ I usually oblige. So, I used to join his programs.”
Mir claimed things changed when Goswami launched Republic TV. “Later, I came to know that BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar had invested in Republic TV. Many people told me that Arnab invites Pakistani intellectuals, politicians, and journalists, pays them, and instructs them to ‘abuse India’ on air.”
Mir said he personally asked some of these guests about the claim. “They told me, ‘Yes, we are paid and we abuse India.’ I asked why Goswami wanted this, and they said he gives us three minutes to bash India and then spends ten minutes bashing Pakistan. That way, his TRPs go up. That’s when I stopped appearing on his shows.”
He also recalled an incident when Goswami falsely claimed that Rawalpindi had been devastated during tensions between India and Pakistan. “I visited Rawalpindi, recorded a video, and posted it online to counter his claim. He didn’t like that,” Mir said, adding, “He is no longer a journalist, so I don’t see a reason to respond to him anymore.”
When asked about Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, Mir responded, “She has visited this office several times. She has been part of our programs too. Once, she claimed a Pakistani pilot had been arrested. I’m still waiting for her to release that photo. I’ll comment on her when she does. For now, I’m giving her some margin.”
Arnab Goswami invites Pakistanis on Republic TV and pay them to abuse India?
— Abhishek (@AbhishekSay) June 9, 2025
Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir says many politicians and journalists told him that Arnab pays them to abuse India in TV debates, after which Indian panelists are given more time to respond, all for TRP. pic.twitter.com/dlJqsta7NN
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Hindus have consolidated, BJP will cross 135 seats in WB: Suvendu Adhikari after early trends
Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said he was confident that the Bharatiya Janata Party would form the government in West Bengal as early counting trends began to emerge.
Speaking after initial trends in the ongoing vote counting, Adhikari said the party was expecting to win more than 135 seats in the state.
He also claimed that Hindu votes had consolidated in favour of the BJP, which, according to him, would translate into victory for the party.
Counting of votes is currently underway, and official results are awaited.
