What are Shazia Ilmi’s allegations on India Today’s video journalist?

Former TV journalist-turned-BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi has accused India Today Television and its consulting editor, Rajdeep Sardesai, of objectifying her. Ilmi claims a video shows her struggling to remove a lapel mic while the cameraman focused on her upper body.

Ilmi claims the cameraman continued to record her despite her requests to stop, during and after the "Politics over Kargil Vijay Diwas" debate hosted by Sardesai. Ilmi left the show in protest after her audio was muted, and criticized the camera's focus on her body instead of her face.

Ma’am, @shaziailmi I respect all my guests always. If anything, I am too indulgent: the fader is lowered only to avoid cross talk and noise on the show. If you have a grouse with me or with an army general on the show, of course that’s your prerogative. And I respect that too.… https://t.co/43atjurw75 pic.twitter.com/VjfmrrGWsz

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 27, 2024

What happened in debate and what are allegations?

The controversy arose from a primetime debate hosted by journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. Shazia Ilmi, representing the BJP, was a participant. The debate took an unexpected turn when Ilmi engaged in a heated exchange with Sardesai. Ilmi claims that Sardesai asked to cut off her microphone, which she found humiliating, leading her to leave midway. The situation escalated when, according to Ilmi, the India Today cameraman continued filming her in her own home after she left.

Ma’am, @shaziailmi I respect all my guests always. If anything, I am too indulgent: the fader is lowered only to avoid cross talk and noise on the show. If you have a grouse with me or with an army general on the show, of course that’s your prerogative. And I respect that too.… https://t.co/43atjurw75 pic.twitter.com/VjfmrrGWsz

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 27, 2024

On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ilmi detailed her allegations against the cameraman, accusing him of inappropriate actions. Firstly, She stated that he kept recording her after the show had concluded and she had left the debate, violating her privacy in her own home. Secondly, she alleged that the cameraman focused on her upper body in an uncomfortable and embarrassing way, going so far as to call him a "pervert" for allegedly zooming in on her chest. Thirdly, Ilmi, who uses a wheelchair, claimed that the cameraman watched her struggle to remove her microphone without offering help. She emphasized that the cameraman continued filming in her home, her "safe place," against her explicit wishes.

Ilmi expressed her distress over the incident, stating, "Any lady would tell you that focussing on their chest is a clear NO NO. I could see this live on screen and requested him not to film me or switch off the camera light." She added, "Just because you're a famous anchor (just as much you're a sore loser) doesn't mean you can humiliate people who call you out and force your crews on people, beyond the brief and violate their private space."

“Just because you’re a famous anchor (just as much you’re a sore loser) doesn’t mean you can humiliate people who call you out and force your crews on people , beyond the brief and violate their private space. And I dare India Today to show footage of my upper body and chest again. I will take this matter up seriously as I was deeply hurt and humiliated by this behaviour,” she warned.

@sardesairajdeep@IndiaToday

Thanks for providing me with the EVIDENCE which clearly shows how your camera man behaved after the show

1. Why on earth would I stay on your show when you humiliate me and say CUT SHAZIA’s Mike off ? Only because I asked you whether you think all…

— Shazia Ilmi (@shaziailmi) July 27, 2024

In response to the allegations, Rajdeep Sardesai took to social media to present his side of the story. He stated that he respects all his guests and only lowers the audio fader to avoid crosstalk during debates. Sardesai condemned Ilmi's behavior towards the video journalist, claiming she had abused and thrown him out of her house. He wrote, "But for you to chuck the mic, abuse our video journalist, and throw him out of your house is just NOT done. He was only doing his job. No excuse for bad behaviour."

Who is Shazia Ilmi?

Shazia Ilmi, born in 1970, is an Indian politician and the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Before politics, she was a prominent figure in Indian television journalism for 15 years. She worked as an anchor at Star News, hosting and producing the prime-time news show "Desh Videsh." Her media work included documentary filmmaking, including a film about an Urdu language newspaper struggle and one on eco-feminist Vandana Shiva.

Ilmi's political career began with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where she was a founding member and part of the party's National Executive. She left AAP in May 2014 and joined the BJP in January 2015. Since July 2021, she has been serving as the national spokesperson for the BJP. Coming from a middle-class Muslim family in Kanpur with links to the Indian National Congress, Ilmi's background is rooted in politics and media. Her father, Maulana Ishaq Ilmi, was the founder and editor of "Siyasat Jadid," a Kanpur-based Urdu newspaper. Her brother, Aijaz Ilmi, is also a member and spokesperson of the BJP, while her sister is married to Arif Mohammed Khan, the current Governor of Kerala and a former Union Minister.

Ilmi studied at St. Mary's Convent High School in Kanpur and Nainital, and St. Bede's College in Shimla. She honed her skills in journalism and broadcasting at Jamia Millia Islamia and the University of Wales, Cardiff, and completed a diploma in 16mm film production at the New York Film Academy.