YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has mocked Indian news anchor Arnab Goswami in a video, repeatedly imitating his use of the word “German” while taking a swipe at his coverage of Rathee’s participation in recent protests against India’s election authorities.
Rathee joined a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on October 8. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Following Rathee’s participation, questions were raised by right-wing Hindutva trolls about his citizenship and visa status. Rathee later displayed his Indian passport in a video, asserting that he was an Indian citizen and would remain one.
In his latest video, Rathee mocked Goswami by repeatedly saying “German”, making fun of the anchor’s focus on his nationality. He opened the clip by joking that a mental health patient had escaped from a hospital, asking viewers to inform him if they spotted the patient, before using the skit to target Goswami.
“Ever since I showed my Indian passport, his whole software has hung,” Rathee said, mocking the anchor for repeatedly bringing up his German connection.
He also referred to Goswami’s alleged repetition of the word “German” during debates, saying the anchor appeared to have run out of material.
“Arnab, don’t be so lazy,” Rathee taunted, adding that Goswami could not simply repeat one word throughout a 9pm debate and expect his work to be done.
Rathee further accused the anchor of trying to defame him through out-of-context clips and criticised what he described as “Godi media”. He also mocked the turnout at the CJP gathering in Bengaluru, claiming the protest had failed to draw even 100 people at Freedom Park.
The clip prompted several critical comments about Goswami, with one user writing, “The nation wants to know which drug Arnab takes?”
Another commented, “He completely destroyed Arnab.”
“He was already mentally unstable a long time ago; people are only realising it now. I saw that he had sought asylum long ago. The government changed, and he got a brand-new asylum called Republic,” a user wrote.
One comment read, “I wouldn’t be able to bear this level of humiliation. Arnab Goswami, shame on you!”
Others also criticised Goswami’s journalism and his television network. “What else can we expect from a pedigree species like Godi media?” one person wrote.
Another commented, “His mental health is badly disturbed and he can no longer be treated in India. If you know a good doctor in Germany, please recommend one.”
“I don’t think there’s a worse journalist than him anywhere in the world,” one opinion said.
One reaction described the media outlet’s approach as: “Government PR agents wearing journalist badges. That is the entire business model. There is a reason it is called Godi media.”
