Coming down heavily on BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya for creating an offensive Twitter poll on senior journalist and India Today TV's consulting editor Rajdeep Sardesai, the Editors Guild of India has termed Malviya's action a "deplorable act".

Amit Malviya had recently conducted a poll on Twitter in which he had asked if the veteran journalist should handle public relations for the ISIS.

Taking strong objection of this, in its statement the Editors Guild of India said Amit Malviya's act was not only "tasteless" but also questions the "integrity and patriotism of Rajdeep Sardesai, who is a journalist of standing".

The Editors Guild of India has issued a statement pic.twitter.com/dFrGYuTYJq Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) December 28, 2019

Here is the full statement of the Editors Guild of India:

"The Editors Guild of India has noted with deep dismay and concern the deplorable act of Amit Malviya, the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party's IT cell, in which he conducted an offensive, McCarthyist social media 'poll' on noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.

The poll on Twitter was not only tasteless, it also questioned the integrity and patriotism of Mr Sardesai, who is a journalist of standing and a former president of the Editors Guild of India.

The Twitter poll by a national head of the BJP also raised questions on the party's commitment to healthy debate and dissent without allowing disagreement to degenerate into abuse. The Guild urges Mr Malviya to immediately withdraw the so-called Twitter poll, and the BJP to caution him strongly."

Meanwhile, responding to statement by Editors Guild, Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted, "I am grateful to Guild and many fellow journalists for their support. Let me reiterate: I bear zero ill will to Mr @amitmalaviya. Hopefully, we can put a close to name-calling and libellous attacks. It's time for samvaad:will gift my book to BJP IT cell head as a new year gift!"