It's official: Congress is boycotting News Hour - Arnab Goswami requests Ahmed Patel to lift ban (Watch video)

, Ahmed Patel reminded Arnab Goswami that the boycott was still on and described the interview as a special case (video below)

April 27, 2016, NewsCrunch

As Congress leader Ahmed Patel made it to clear to Arnab Goswami on Wednesday night, there is an official ban on News Hour.

Congress party spokespersons have quietly stopped taking part in Times Now editor Arnab Goswami's flagship show News Hour.

Even spokesperson Sanjay Jha, who would regularly spar with Arnab Goswami, has gone missing recently, triggering speculation that the party had slapped an informal ban on News Hour.

The Congress leaders accuse Arnab Goswami of aggressively pushing BJP's agenda and unleashing a frenzy, without giving them a chance to counter it.

Congress has had a bitter experience with Arnab Goswami. In the run-up to the 2014 polls, it had selected him to conduct a coming-of-age interview with Rahul Gandhi. Arnab Goswami went aggressive and made Rahul Gandhi look ill-prepared for the responsibility that was being foisted on him.

The boycott of a major party is hurting News Hour depriving it of counter points or punching bags, if you will.  The show, which once routinely set off Twitter trends, seems to have lost its fizz.  

On Wednesday night Congress leader Ahmed Patel gave an exclusive 15 minute interview to Arnab Goswami.

The political adviser to Congress president Sonia Gandhi agreed to take questions on the AgustaWestland chopper scam, in which top Congress leaders, including himself, have been accused of taking bribes.

Before kicking off the interview, Ahmed Patel reminded Arnab Goswami that the boycott was still on and described the interview as a special case.

Arnab Goswami, requested Ahmed Patel to lift boycott saying as a democratic party Congress must continue to participate in the News Hour.

"I will assure you that we will do nothing to facilitate it (boycott) and just continue to do our reporting," said Arnab Goswami.

It's official - Congress is boycotting News Hour - Arnab Goswami requests Ahmed Patel to lift ban (Watch video)