NEW DELHI: The firebrand AAP leader and former journalist Ashutosh first came to prominence in 1996 after he was slapped by late BSP founder Kanshi Ram at his Delhi home.
Kanshi Ram was irate over presence of few journalists at his premises and adamant on them leaving the place. The late leader was caught on camera as he slapped Ashutosh, a TV reporter then, followed by further assaults by the Dalit leader’s supporters.
Ashutosh has never looked back since then and went on to become the Executive Editor of IBN7, a leading Hindi news TV channel, before he decided to quit the job and join the Aam Aadmi Party about a year ago.
He fought a pitched battle against two seniormost leaders of Delhi, Dr Harsh Vardhan of BJP and Kapil Sibal from Congress, from Chandni Chowk in the previous Lok Sabha election but lost.
Ashutosh, known for his honesty and professional integrity in the media industry, was again in limelight after he broke down during a TV show as he was talking to the daughter of farmer from Rajasthan who committed suicide at an AAP rally in Delhi recently, protesting against the land bill of the present Modi government at the Centre.
