Vir versus Karan

Vir and Karan – readers’ delight!
[Picture source: left, right]
Even journalists from same paper may differ. But that speaks volumes about the quality of the newspaper, which is the HT in this case. I keep Sunday HT because I like to read the columns by Vir Sanghvi and Karan Thapar. And today they lock horns over Ram Jethmalani’s propriety or the lack of it in handling Manu Sharma’s case.

Here in Kolkata, not many are aware who Manu Sharma is, except a few who keep glued to the small screen. But that is not the point I wish to dwell on. It’s about the line of argument Vir Sanghvi takes and the one taken by Karan Thapar.

Both Vir and Karan are popular anchors on TV, each having his own fan following. Both appear stern as questioners, Karan more so, and both frequently interrupt the interviewee, once again Karan more so. It’s hard to deny though that their programs are enjoyable, perhaps because we the common people like to see celebrities put in ‘dock’ for ‘questioning’.

Their today’s articles however differ in how they look at Ram Jethmalani’s role in defending Manu Sharma. Karan’s argument is based on the basic tenet of meting justice. Which is that Manu Sharma has every right to defend himself, and in so doing if Jethmalani’s skill comes to help, there isn’t anything bad in that.

Vir’s is rather laden with emotion. He almost concedes that Jethmalani may be able to free Manu Sharma, and he doesn’t like that. It is because he feels that if Manu Sharma is acquitted, it will only be due to Jethmalani’s skill (coming at a ‘cost’ not everyone can afford) at the expense of ‘facts’ that are known to be true.

Both Karan and Vir are prolific writers and they do write interesting pieces. On this occasion though, I prefer to side with Vir Sanghvi’s opinion, because I always feel a nation thrives on emotions, and not rules.

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