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Thread on the #ArnabGate #WhatsAppLeaks. Alleged Journos are outraging how Arnab knew a retaliatory strike for #PulwamaAttack was imminent days before. Well here’s a list of people who knew beforehand
1. @htTweets because the PM said so on 23rd FEB
1. @htTweets because the PM said so on 23rd FEB
2. The @IndianExpress knew because the reported Sambit’s speech TK this effect
3. @IndianExpress had been reporting @ImranKhanPTI saying this a full 6 days before the attack. Did Modi call and inform Khan as well?
4. Also on the 24th IE carried PM’s Mann ki Baat
5. By the 19th (8 days prior to Balakot) Imran was worried enough that he even approached the UN to “defuse the situation”.
6. Notably @thewire_in & @CNNnews18 journalist Karan Thapar in his @htTweets column on the 24th (obviously written & edited by the 23rd) seemed to think a retaliatory strike was imminent
7. Meanwhile - Imran Khan and the Pakistan army were able threatening Afghanistan as far back as the 19th of Feb 2021 - saying the Indian retaliatory strike would derail talks
8. Amit Shah similarly announced retaliation was imminent at a rally on the 21st of Feb.
9. In short at least since the 19th a full 8 days before Balakot happened, the Government made it clear, retaliation was imminent. If alleged journalists didn’t pick up on this, it just shows you what trashy journalists they are. Arnab didn’t say anything not already public.
10. Adding more from crowdsourcing (via @AbhiNationalist) on the 24th US President Trump suggested a strong Indian retaliation seemed imminent & John Bolton strongly supported India’s imminent retaliation.
11. Meanwhile @timesofindia not only knew of a retaliation, but also specifically knew Air Strikes were the preferred option as early as 16th Feb 2019 (2 days after pulwama & 10 days before Balakot)
12. Though staffed with dumb reporters who take years to realise they’ve been conned, even denser than lead @NDTV picked up that strikes were imminent by the 23rd (3 days before the attack)
13. Maybe @the_hindu should explain what exactly they interpreted “full freedom for planning retaliatory action” as reported by them on 17th February (9 days before Balakot) meant. Did they think “retaliation” was candlelight vigils & competitive Bhangra dancing?
14. @IndiaToday was running a programme just 1 day after the pulwama attack, predicting air strikes “as Air Chief Marshal Fali Major had reccomended to PM Manmohan Singh after the 26/11 mumbai attack”. To note INC spokesperson was present in the debate. (Via @prasanna4swaraj)
