What has Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami actually done? According to social media site Twitter on Wednesday – almost every thing.
It all started with a tweet on Wednesday from Rajdeep Sardesai, his former colleague and consulting editor with India Today’s television station, where he criticised Goswami for allegedly claiming during an address that his car with crew was attacked by men armed with trishuls, seemingly during the Gujarat riots in 2002.
Wow! My friend Arnab claims his car attacked next to CM Res in Guj riots! Truth:he wasn't covering Ahmedabad riots!! https://t.co/xOe7zY8rCp
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017
Sardesai, who was Goswami’s boss at NDTV at the time, refuted this. He said that Arnab Goswami wasn’t even covering Ahmedabad riots. In further tweets, Sardesai said that “fekugiri has its limits” and that he felt “sorry for his profession”. Meanwhile, journalists who were actually covering Gujarat riots backed Sardesai’s contention.
Absolutely. @sardesairajdeep cameraman Narendra & others came back to @sanjeevrsingh office/house after incident with glass all over them. https://t.co/eflLWJgr64
— Nalin Mehta (@nalinmehta) September 19, 2017
Astonishing revelation considering Arnab wasn't in Gujarat when this incident took place with @sardesairajdeep. @bhavatoshsingh @nalinmehta https://t.co/HphTLSAs2j
— Sanjeev Singh (@sanjeevrsingh) September 19, 2017
If this wasn’t enough, other journalists also jumped in the controversy with Rahul Kanwal, Managing Editor, India Today tweeting that he would do a show on Wednesday on his channel to find out if Arnab Goswami is a “big liar.”
At 10 pm on Newsroom. The Nation Wants to Know: Is Arnab Goswami a big liar? Will he apologise now that his blatant lie has been caught out?
— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) September 20, 2017
I now ask a simple direct question: nation wants to know if Arnab will resign and quit journalism if his story turns out to be false?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 20, 2017
Meanwhile, Twitter users jumped in and found ways to troll Goswami for his yet unproven assertions by coining the hashtag #ArnabDidIt and giving him credit for everything from the first moon landing to India’s 1857 sepoy mutiny. Photoshopped memes and pictures then flowed freely across the platform.
What no body knows is it was Arnab under that space suit and Neil Armstrong took all the credit. #ArnabDidIt pic.twitter.com/EIgvpePk15
— Hrishikesh Rajpathak (@h_rapa) September 20, 2017
Young Aranb Goswami taking Mahatam Gandhi on the path of Nonviolence, Bombay.(1944) pic.twitter.com/0KdZYeTzRS
— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) September 20, 2017
This is my favorite Arnab meme of many today. pic.twitter.com/WrTpmHVLhb
— Annie Gowen (@anniegowen) September 20, 2017
Couldn't resist it. Arnab
— Krish Ashok (@krishashok) September 20, 2017
1. meeting with the Luftwaffe to plan to liberate India
2. Inspecting the INA
3. Sharing a moment with Edwina pic.twitter.com/jcLsxgW5fU
Who let the dogs out? #Arnabdidit
— 😈 in the deets (@AditiMallya) September 20, 2017
#ArnabDidIt: (via a friend). pic.twitter.com/Qb37I2wlvv
— Salil Tripathi (@saliltripathi) September 20, 2017
When Arnab's car was stopped by a dinosaur.#ArnabDidIt pic.twitter.com/e6OegrQXMw
— Bodhisathwan (@bodyofsatan) September 20, 2017
#NehruDi... I mean... #ArnabDidIt pic.twitter.com/4o4zXOBjZJ
— Meghnad 👨🏫 📖 (@Memeghnad) September 20, 2017
Arnab Goswami with Vasco Da Gama (left) announcing the arrival of Portuguese fleet on Calicut coast of India, 20 May 1498. #ArnabDidIt pic.twitter.com/BEt5hV5HBV
— Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) September 20, 2017
It wasn't Jesus but Arnab Goswami who was crucified .#ArnabDidIt
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) September 20, 2017
Arnab also raised the Red flag over the German Reichstag in 1945, signalling the end of Nazi Germany and WW2.#ArnabDidIt https://t.co/6p0pBeq634
— Advaid (@Advaidism) September 20, 2017
Owe my entire football fandom to Arnab for his hand in that magical goal on that beautiful day in 1986..... #ArnabDidIt #HandOfArnab pic.twitter.com/fj9TXcoQww
— technical reason (@atlasdanced) September 20, 2017
#ArnabDidIt
— Meghnad 👨🏫 📖 (@Memeghnad) September 20, 2017
(In case you want the template 😜: https://t.co/cnsi7jb1wo) pic.twitter.com/7OBK0zjAW6