Exclusive Interview: Senior Journalist Barkha Dutt Says Modi Govt & BJP Going After Her, Not Letting Her Work

After announcing on Twitter that she has received chilling threats of surveillance, threats of smear campaigns about her personal life from many in the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an audibly anguished senior journalist Barkha Dutt exclusively spoke to NC24x7 and underlined that the BJP will be responsible if anything happens to her and her family.

“If anything happens to me and my family whether in terms of a smear campaign or any other threat, then the government and BJP will be responsible,” Dutt said.

Dutt left NDTV last year following which she has been working on many projects. However, she claims that it has not been a smooth sail for her.  “Ever since I left NDTV, promoters have been offering me work. But, many back out at the last moment saying the BJP is out to get you and we are being pressurised to not work with you.”

Dutt asserted that she had not spoken so far because she did not want to become the story. She decided to go public today because she was conveyed a message through a friend that “she must abandon the projects she is working on, she and her family are already under surveillance, everything will be done to prevent her from working, including her and her family being buried under false cases.” Dutt claimed that senior BJP leaders have personally told her “aap ye mat kariye ham ye hone nahin denge” [Don’t do this (continue work), we will not let this happen.]

“They warned that they will smear and malign me to stop me from starting any new projects. I was advised to get my house debugged and hire private security,” Dutt said.

When asked, in her long career as a journalist, if she has ever been intimidated in this manner before, Dutt said, “Every government tries to control information. However, the last one and a half year have been unprecedentedly horrible for me. Reports that I am under surveillance are disturbing. If they are true, the govt needs to explain.”

Earlier today, Dutt posted a series of tweets:

Received chilling veiled threats and "messages" from powerful people in the Establishment today that my family and I are under surveillance – and that I will be smeared & maligned to stop me from starting any new projects. Was advised to get my house debugged. Is this my country?

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018

Over the last few months those associated with the ruling party have warned me – politely, impolitely – not to work on new TV projects and told me – "we will never allow them to happen"- today I was told a 45 minute meeting held on how to stop me, smear me, malign me, tap me.

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018

Those who conveyed the message to me today- said a big meeting was held on how to stop me and my projects. I was told tools will include- tapping my phone, income tax cases, smear, surveillance. was advised debugging and personal security and to not proceed with my new work. https://t.co/P0ZUeYKiva

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018

All this while I though Indian Democracy would keep me safe & keep my rights as a private citizen intact. Today it is conveyed to me that sections of the Establishment have decided to use any tool available to stop me from working. I am placing this in the public domain .

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018

I never thought the day would come when in my own country, I would be told to hire private security & get my house debugged. I suppose i should be ready for phone taps, IT cases, ED raids, death threats – the meeting held by those who wield power have said- Stop her work projects

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018

I hope @Ra_THORe as I& B Minister takes notes of chilling threats conveyed to me on the plans within on how to stop me from working in TV news. And if the government is tapping my phones and bugging my house- it is grossly illegal and a violation of my privacy. Thank you.

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018