Arnab Goswami, Times Now’s editor-in-chief, has written a blog, hitting out at those who slammed him for the way he conducted his exclusive interview with PM Narendra Modi. “For me, working far away from the machinations and intrigue of Lutyens journalism, the collective outrage of Lutyens journalists at the fact that I got the interview is amusing,” Arnab wrote in a blog on Businessworld.

In a three part reply to those who questioned his tone in the interview, Arnab says, “There were some ridiculous questions on my tone. Was I soft? Why didn’t I raise my voice like on Newshour? Why did I keep referring to the Prime Minister as “Mr Prime Minister”? Three answers should silence this industry that obsesses about me. First, I used the same tone with Rahul Gandhi. If this industry is disappointed with how he let them down, its not my problem. Second, Frankly Speaking is an interview and The Newshour is a debate, both are therefore different styles and formats. And finally, “Mr Prime Minister” is the most appropriate reference point when you are speaking to the Prime Minister.”

Also read: Arnab interview: 15 highlights of what PM Narendra Modi said

Arnab writes that his interview with PM Modi was a huge success and covered a wide range of topics from NSG, China, Pakistan to Subramanian Swamy and GST. “…the interview had covered it all. And covered it so exhaustively in fact that ignoring the newsiness of the interview by not publishing it ran the risk of missing the big story of the day. And so everyone in the national media, on print, TV and digital followed it. Whether they did so grudgingly or not doesn’t matter,” he wrote.

Highlighting his channel’s achievements over the last few years, Arnab says, “For the last ten years, Newshour and Frankly Speaking have defined the news agenda in India.” He even talks of the interview with Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Frankly Speaking has scooped every big interview, from Rahul Gandhi to Mr Modi, and that is because the protagonists and participants know that we attract a far greater viewership than all other channels put together.”

“Eventually, all of us will be judged by what we do. Not by how elegantly we troll on social media and its satellites,” Arnab signed off.

Arnab Goswami’s rare blog comes after he faced severe criticism and was trolled for days on social media after his interview with PM Modi. The attacks were not limited to journalists, but also had politicians from Congress and AAP accusing that the interview was “fixed”.

“Is Arnab Goswami a journalist or Modi propagandist?” tweeted Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. “When a heavily promoted TV interview is ” fixed” , it says as much about both the interviewer and the interviewee. #JumlaWithFranklyChamcha,” tweeted Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha.