12 journalists tell Shekhar Gupta to shut up a vile, hate-spewing Islamophobic bigot

Only "St. Sinner" is sure the Editors Guild president will act "tomorrow"

Alleged defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra’s latest advertisement of his unhinged, misogynistic Islamophobia has led to an avalanche of criticism online—and calls for the website The Print to stop playing host to the serial bigot.

Iyer-Mitra, who has repeatedly shown no sign of a synaptic link between the cortex and the oral orifice, unloaded his bile on Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of the fact-checking website Alt News.

This, a day after yet another bigot had been unmasked.

Iyer-Mitra later deleted his tweet, apparently on the advice of “a man he respects”, but dozens of journalists and social media users have since joined in to urge the Print’s editor Shekhar Gupta to show Iyer-Mitra the door.

Of course, it was not to be.

With India and China locked in an eyeball to eyeball confrontation yet again, and Narendra Modi’s famed laal aankh not so glowering, websites need content. And who better than “chamchas and agents” who are part of the “sarkari propaganda machine”?

ranjona banerji: prophet of doom @ranjona

Interesting that @ThePrintIndia is still promoting Mr Iyer-Mitra's writing. In spite of or because of his latest crude, vile Islamophobic, misogynistic assault? @ShekharGupta

ThePrintIndia @ThePrintIndia

Not Pangong or Galwan, why India must worry about Hotsprings-Gogra region most Abhijit Iyer-Mitra @Iyervval, senior fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, writes #ThePrintOpinion https://t.co/cpVcKWtxaB

Of course, The Print has a ready excuse for its continued patronage of the imbecile. Nothing tickles the algorithms like offence, and moreover…

Iyer-Mitra did not make the offending remarks on its website. True to the standard disclaimer “the author’s views are his own”, it can claim it cannot shackle a columnist for views he holds outside its portals.

But that excuse hasn’t held back the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, an organisation with which Iyer-Mitra is associated.

IPCS, New Delhi @IPCSNewDelhi

On the matter of certain remarks made by a colleague on social media yesterday, allow us to unequivocally state that #IPCS takes hate speech seriously and does not condone it in any form. As per procedure, an internal review process is underway.

But since what happens on social media stays on social media, dozens of pointed questions have been asked of those who slyly humour the little twerp.

Some gently.

Aditya Menon @AdityaMenon22

.@ShekharGupta sir please discontinue taking columns from this obnoxious person. No civilised media outfit should lend him a platform. I won't tag Times Now but one expects more from @ThePrintIndia. Enough is enough now.

Some not quite, like an AltNews colleague of Mohammed Zubair.

SamSays @samjawed65

What’s your excuse @ShekharGupta for continuing to provide a platform to this person?

***

An additional problem here is that Shekhar Gupta is currently the president of the Editors Guild of India, an institution that once had the heft and moral standing to hold the compass to the fraternity.

So, the former Tehelka journalist Rana Ayyub, who authored Gujarat Files, waded in.

Rana Ayyub @RanaAyyub

Hello @ShekharGupta , you are the President of the Editors Guild of India and this man is a columnist with your publication. And despite his bigotry, his rape threats and Islamophobic rants, you continue to publish him ?

Within The Print itself, a resourceful young journalist showed his spine.

Shahbaz Ansar @ShahbazAnsar_

You don’t need to think twice before abusing a Muslim. This is the impunity that bigots enjoy under this government

As did a columnist.

Asim Ali @AsimAli6

Abhijit Iyer Mitra is among the vilest people on this platform. His Islamophobic and sexist bile reflects poorly on the organizations that give him space, and they should reconsider their association with him. @ThePrintIndia @IPCSNewDelhi @orfonline

But it was a message clearly lost on their boss—or bosses.

ranjona banerji: prophet of doom @ranjona

Has @ThePrintIndia responded yet to Mr Iyer-Mitra's toxic misogynistic Islamophobic abuse? Given him a raise perhaps?

Parth MN @parthpunter

Seriously, @ShekharGupta. This is absolutely despicable

Aditya Menon @AdityaMenon22

.@ShekharGupta sir please discontinue taking columns from this obnoxious person. No civilised media outfit should lend him a platform. I won't tag Times Now but one expects more from @ThePrintIndia. Enough is enough now. https://t.co/S2kJ4jFdMc

When Iyer-Mitra fired from the shoulders of a “man I respect” and deleted his tweets, Abhinandan Sekhri of News Laundry asked him who that “pathetic coward” was.

Abhinandan Sekhri @AbhinandanSekhr

Is this person you “respect a lot” too embarrassed to be named by you or as big a pathetic coward as you are who walks back your position all the time? Your hollow bombast doesn’t hide you low self esteem lad. Hateful rants won’t cure the condition.

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra @Iyervval

A man I respect a lot just called. He gave me some very sage advice “never wrestle with a herd of swines, they’ll enjoy it”. Point taken.

In the end, the fact-checker at the receiving end had a word of gratitude for all those who had stood up for him.

Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear

I want to thank everyone for all the love and support on social media.♥️ While I am not personally affected, but no one should be subjected to such abuse, and it should not be normalised. Which is why I am surprised that @ThePrintIndia hasn't even bothered to put out a statement.

But normal folk were quite bemused to learn of the idiot’s antecedents.

Kalyan Raman @kalyanasc

#TIL that the much-reviled young(!) bigot is the son of lady IAS officer in TN who had acid thrown on her face during Amma's first stint and joined forces with SuSwamy for protection. How weird. Also explains his clout with the likes of Shekhar uncle.

***

The contrast to editorial standards in the West was remarkable.

The publication by The New York Times of an op-ed piece by a US Senator calling for a military response to the ongoing protests in America drew online ire, led to angry reactions from within the newspaper, protests by the papers’s union, and deep soul-searching within the newspaper. 

The editorial page editor had to explain.

James Bennet @JBennet

I want to explain why we published the piece today by Senator Tom Cotton.

nyti.msOpinion | Tom Cotton: Send In the TroopsThe nation must restore order. The military stands ready.

That’s not a requirement in India.

When Shekhar Gupta himself triumphantly tweeted on The Lancet revising its position on the anti-malarial drug, technology media pioneer Prasanto K. Roy, who founded Cyber Media, had to remind Gupta of Iyer-Mitra.

PKR | প্রশান্ত | پرشانتو @prasanto

Reputation intact. My respect for @TheLancet goes up: they've published a retraction and apology basis changing facts, on so critical an issue. My respect for @ThePrintIndia would go up if it did the same for work by columnists displaying vicious bigotry and doubtful calibre.

Shekhar Gupta @ShekharGupta

So what does it do for the reputation of the most respected medical journal in the world. Needs a review of its editorial politicisation lately... https://t.co/O1uK4p72sr

The TV anchor turned YouTuber Akash Banerjee saw the pussy-footing by The Print as evidence of playing both sides, a familiar survival tactic in Delhi these days.

Akash Banerjee @TheDeshBhakt

Maybe @ShekharGupta can do a #CutTheClutter this week that will detail how media in India has become a powerful platform that supports / promotes / legitimizes hate peddlers- all in the name of 'balance of opinion' and showing 'both sides' https://t.co/yFcZi9vIro

Manisha Pande @MnshaP

Only in India can you get away with calling a Muslim you disagree with a 'jihadi' and still have media organisations platform you. Even Fox and Co wouldn't tolerate such crap. Shows how low our expectations from public discourse is.

Saket Gokhale, a “former foreign correspondent”, filed a case with the cyber crimes department.

Saket Gokhale @SaketGokhale

Again, it’s very unfortunate that @ShekharGupta has not only remained utterly silent on this but has also published yet another article by @Iyervval last night showing his tacit support & endorsement to this man. Don’t support Islam0phobia, Shekhar. Speak up.

In the end, only one social media participant scooped the news that Shekhar Gupta was sure to act: tomorrow.