A BBC News Hindi interview with Avadh Ojha, a UPSC educator who has joined the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Delhi elections, was stopped midway at the party’s office in the capital on Thursday.
Ojha, who switched to YouTube coaching classes after spending a decade teaching UPSC aspirants in Delhi, had joined the AAP this week. It came after months of speculation about him joining the BJP or Congress, and reports suggesting he was denied Lok Sabha tickets from both parties.
The interview was stopped minutes after reporter Anshul Singh asked Ojha whether he will continue to praise the BJP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the AAP’s political rivals. Ojha’s videos had earlier appreciated UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Ojha tried to answer, saying that appreciating someone is a sign of a positive attitude, and listing out examples such as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s words of praise for Brian Lara’s score.
But a voice in the background says, “I had told you not to ask any ulta-seedha (odd) question. Stop this.”
“I was just asking a question. Sir, it’s very normal,” the reporter, Anshul Singh, says. He then asks Ojha, “Sir, have I asked any objectionable question? I want to know.”
Ojha says, “Bhaiyya dekho, I will tell you. The party will decide the line. This is what these people will decide.” He then removes his lapel mic.
The description on the YouTube video uploaded by BBC News Hindi stated that AAP functionaries “stopped the recording midway” and “did not let the conversation finish”.
Newslaundry reached out to Anshul Singh and Avadh Ojha for comment. This copy will be updated if a response is received.
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