If new ‘journalists’ of mainstream media are to be believed, one is a political party only if the workers indulge in violence and beat up bystanders. Times Now journalist Padmaja Joshi tweeted last night that Congress workers who were gathered outside P Chidambaram’s residence as he was being taken into custody by CBI and ED for his alleged involvement in INX Media scam, beat up a man who was shouting ‘Chidambaram Chor Hai’.

Congress workers gather outside P Chidambaram’s house. Beat up a man who was shouting ‘Chidambaram chor hai’. ? — Padmaja joshi (@PadmajaJoshi) August 21, 2019

During the run-up to the elections, the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi had indulged in mudslinging and rhetorics on a non-existent ‘Rafale scam’ (which no one talks about now that elections are over) and coined the election campaign for Congress as ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ (the watchman is a thief). PM Modi turned this attack of Congress and started the ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign where he said how the elite will always mock the hard working class people. ‘Chidambaram Chor Hai’ would also be an extension to the campaign. The Congress workers, as per Joshi, then beat up the man who shouted that slogan.

However, The Hindu’s Political Editor, Nistula Hebbar seemed visibly excited that Congress workers were finally behaving like a political party, perhaps implying that a true blue political party worker should indulge in violence if their party leader is accused of wide-scale corruption and is being taken into judicial custody by investigation agencies.

Chalo, kisi ke liye toh khoon khaula! Political party hone ka ehsaas toh hua! — Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) August 21, 2019

When a Twitter user pointed out that had it been an incident where a cow smuggler was beaten up by a mob, she would have cried ‘intolerance’ and ‘mob lynching’.

Tumhaara dimaag kharab hai. The comment was on the generally comatose reaction of Congress. Idiot. — Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) August 22, 2019

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Hebbar then defended her endorsement of violence by stating that her tweet was being taken out of context and she meant to take a dig on Congress’ lack of reaction against the ruling party’s moves in past few years. Quite a strange way to contextualise endorsement of mob violence, especially when in the past she has been quite vocal against it.

Horrific and shameful attack by a mob on @INCIndia leader @MYaskhi on the eve of polling in #Telangana. Such a violent attack should be condemned in the strongest terms. @MathewLiz — Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) December 7, 2018

Some political leaders make journalists more ‘neutral’ than others it seems.