News Broadcasting
Smriti Irani on ‘Aap Ki Adalat’: Indian taxpayers should not pay for Congress’ mistakes
Mumbai: This time, the headline-making India TV courtroom show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ witnessed a back-and-forth with Union Minister Smriti Irani and India TV editor-in-chief and chairman Rajat Sharma. The entire session revolved around Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, his London trip, Amethi and the ongoing Adani Group row.
The exchange began with Irani hitting back at the Congress party for demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe and challenging Gandhi to answer her 5 questions. These were in context to numerous deals signed by the conglomerate during the UPA regime.
Defending prime minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the “Adani-Ambani” slogans, Irani asserted, “Modi is silent because he is the Pradhan Sewak. He has to gulp poison every day. As far as Adani is concerned, if you meet Rahul Gandhi, ask him these five questions.” She even criticised Gandhi and other party leaders for launching personal attacks on the prime minister and his family on several occasions, including on the demise of the latter’s mother.
The union minister further stated that it was during her reign that Amethi made significant progress as compared to when it was under Congress. “I demolished their 40-year-old empire in Amethi. The person they were extolling as the uncrowned king of their political legacy is now walking the streets,” she added.
In the fired-up interview session with seasoned journalist Rajat Sharma, Irani further scrutinised the statements made by Rahul Gandhi on the international platform regarding inviting foreign powers to intervene in the country’s functioning. Demanding his apologies on the same, she questioned, “Why should the Indian taxpayers pay for Rahul’s or Congress’ mistakes? He lied and insulted India in a foreign land. He invited foreign powers to intervene… This is an attack not only on our country but on Modi, it is an attack on our younger generation. Do you think our youth will sit silent and watch this tamasha (spectacle)?”
When Sharma enquired about the accusations made by the Congress on prohibiting Gandhi from making any remark in the parliament and Indian universities, due to which he had to address the issues on foreign soil, Irani rebuffed swiftly.
Citing examples of the slogans raised in the parliament by the Congress representatives, she said that parliamentary proceedings are in order, it is party leaders who need to act properly and apologise for making baseless comments.
Further addressing the allegation of the muting of mikes amid parliamentary proceedings by the Congress, she clarified, “How can the mikes be muted? Those who saw Rahul’s press conference can tell- was he able to speak alone? He needs an assistant to speak. Go through what he said. He said, ‘unfortunately I am a member of Parliament’. Yeh public hai, sab jaanti hai.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
