Pulwama martyrs' relatives condemn Arnab Goswami

Following the leak of what appears as confidential chats between former BARC head Partho Dasgupta and Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, relatives of the martyred Pulwama soldier have come forward to accuse Goswami of boasting about TRP ratings at the expense of their martyrs' lives.

"Arnab Goswami, you are speaking of TRP ratings when the entire nation and the deceased family members were mourning. You should be ashamed of yourself," Times Now quoted the relative of one of the martyrs as saying. Another anonymous relative who claims she lost a son-in-law during the attack has told Times Now that there was nothing but "big talk" on television.

The alleged WhatsApp chats depict Goswami as having early knowledge of the attack that occurred on February 14 2019 and took the lives of 40 Central Reserve Force Personnel as well as the follow-up Balakot air strikes. "We have won this attack like crazy," the transcript reads. This statement has been interpreted by many as referring to the gain in TRP for the channel which is being investigated for TRP manipulation.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has hailed the leaked chats as evidence of India's "fascist" motives.

"Latest revelations from communication of an Indian journalist, known for his warmongering, reveal the unholy nexus between the Modi govt & Indian media," Imran Khan tweeted. He claimed that the Indian media was pushing the region into a conflict it could not afford.

Arnab Goswami has rubbished the claims of the Pakistani Prime Minister and stated that any Indian could predict that the government would strike back to avenge the Pulwama martyrs.

"What has become obvious now is a Pakistan hand in the conspiracy against the Republic," Goswami's statement published by Republic TV reads. "If the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan have come out in support of the malicious police action against the Republic, then everything is said and nothing much is left to be said."