Here's Why Anchor Anjana Om Kashyap Is Trending For An Interview With Akhilesh Yadav

An Anjana Om Kashyap-Akhilesh Yadav interview has ruffled feathers on social media where the duo began trending this week. The former, a journalist with a prominent news channel, recently sat for a chat with the Samajwadi Party leader ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls. The interview appeared to go south after Yadav's allegedly repetitive use of the term 'honest journalist' during the conversation.

As per videos of the interview going viral on Twitter, Yadav said he counted Kashyap among the most honest journalists (imaandaar patrakaar) of the country. Kashyap reacted to his comments strongly, objecting to the inherent "sarcasm" she said was present in them.

"What are you trying to say with your repeated use of that one word? You are an honoured politician, I don't understand the need for you to take that stance," Kashyap is heard saying. "You are saying it sarcastically."

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"Akhilesh Yadav ji, answer the questions I am asking you. Don't try to poke someone with your repetitive use of that one word. You also know what you are trying to do. Other people might tolerate it, but not me. I won't accept it. I listened to you patiently but now I think I will have to intervene," Kashyap adds further.

Yadav questions why Kashyap is taking his apparent "compliment" in a negative way.

Kashyap, a news anchor with the Aaj Tak channel, is often trolled on social media and has on multiple occasions in the past been accused by netizens of siding with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while reporting.

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In September last year, Kashyap was similarly trolled when she tried to get an exclusive byte from Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Sneha Dubey, following the latter's fiery United Nations speech in which she hit out at Pakistan for harbouring terrorism.

A video went viral of Kashyap approaching Dubey, then the star of the moment, in her office and attempting to get her to answer a few questions. Dubey politely turned Kashyap's request and, quite literally, showed the journalist the door. More on that here.