Channel Surf – Times Now

March 30, 2012 From TIMES NOW website

“TIMES NOW has accessed a letter of a whistleblower demanding resignation of BEML CMD over charges of alleged misappropriation of funds. The letter claimed that BEML CMD VRS Natarajan allegedly misappropriated funds to the tune of Rs 150 crore. The letter also went on to claim that the clarification issued by BEML CMD following media reports of irregularities is untrue. The letter also said that Tatra Sipox was not an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) as it was allegedly registered as a Marriage Bureau. It claimed that BEML CMD and Tatra allegedly mislead the Indian government that Tatra Sipox is a fully owned subsidiary of OEM. In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists – Tarun Vijay, National Spokesperson, BJP & MP RS; Vinod Sharma, Senior Journalist and Dr. Hanumanthappa, President, Karnataka Wing of All India Federation of C/ST/Backward Classes – debate the issue.”

I just love Vinod Sharma. His beatific smile is enough to make your evening. Why is he always so happy? Is the honorarium every panelist is charmingly sent after each appearance responsible? No, can’t be so crass. Is it because he supports the Congress Party so willingly that it gets him invitations from channels when they can’t find a Congress spokesperson. No, can’t be so cynical. It must be because it is just plain fun. Arnab tried to elicit an answer from Dr Hanumanthappa about the letters he forwarded. Is Dr Hanumanthappa out of his depth and unfairly planted with English speaking panellists? Perhaps, but maybe he’s smarter than them all and knows how not to answer a question. Delicious farce. Watch from 00:30 to 02:12 mins

I am in serious trouble. I find I am agreeing with Vinod Sharma, allegedly of The Hindustan Times, but mostly respected as a thinly disguised spokesman for the Congress Party. While Arnab does his best to get an answer from Dr Hanumanthappa on his comprehension of defence procurement that led him to forward the letter of a whistleblower about Tatra trucks, Dr Hanumanthappa’s art of not answering turns into pure comedy. Even Arnab has trouble keeping a straight face. Dr Hanumanthappa has mastered the power of silence and a lot of words that have nothing to do with the question. Only in India. Watch from 01:07 to 8:26 mins

Why bother to watch comedy shows? Just watch the news.