Journalist Mandeep Punia Speaks Straight — On Media, Gangsters, and Haryana’s Reality

This article highlights ground-zero journalist Mandeep Punia's raw interview on the For Haryanvi By Haryanvi podcast. It provides a concise summary of his sharp perspectives on media ownership, the economic crises driving local youth toward gangsterism, and the true cultural identity of Haryana.

Journalist Mandeep Punia in conversation with Peddler Media host on the For Haryanvi By Haryanvi podcast, discussing Haryana's media and youth crisis
Mandeep Punia Interview - For Haryanvi By Haryanvi Podcast

On an episode of For Haryanvi By Haryanvi, we sat down with journalist Mandeep Punia — whose channel was shut down 4 times during the farmers’ protest, yet who kept reporting from the ground anyway. He shared some sharp, honest takes on several issues. Here are the main highlights:

Journalist Mandeep Punia On Media

Mandeep said government advertising is the biggest revenue source for TV news — and whoever pays, controls the narrative. That’s why senior anchors like Punya Prasun Bajpai , Abhisar Sharma, and Ravish Kumar walked away from their channels.

He also said digital media is now heading the same way — government ad money has started flowing into digital too.

Journalist Mandeep Punia during his interview on the Peddler Media podcast, discussing Haryana's media and youth crisis
Journalist Mandeep Punia in conversation with Peddler Media, discussing Haryana and youth crisis.

Journalism vs. Entertainment

His clearest line: “If it doesn’t fall into the category of journalism, it isn’t journalism — it’s entertainment.” According to him, most digital channels in Haryana show accident footage or couple-fight live streams, while real issues — farmers, labourers, poverty — barely get covered.

Also Read:- When Everyone Books Manali, This Man Is On A Mission To Show Haryana.

Where the Name “Haryana” Came From

An interesting fact he shared: the name “Haryana” was first used by George Thomas, around 1800. It means “Greenland” — fertile land.

Close-up of journalist Mandeep Punia speaking during his Peddler Media podcast interview on Haryana's media and youth crisis
Mandeep Punia in a candid discussion with Peddler Media on Haryana’s ground realities.

Journalist Mandeep Punia On Youth and Gangsters

The most emotional part — Mandeep explained why sons of small farmers end up becoming gangsters. A labourer earns ₹500-1000 a day through hard work; picking up a gun can get you ₹1 lakh. That “easy money” temptation is what pulls them toward the wrong path.

The Truth About the Music Industry

He didn’t hold back here either — producers made the money in Haryanvi music, not the singers. Singers from poor families are often locked into 2-3 year contracts, almost like bonded labour.

Also Read:- How Vikram Malik Changed the Haryanvi Music Scene

Haryana in One Word

At the end, when asked to define Haryana, Mandeep said: “Greenland” — and if given more words, “Himmat” (grit).

Watch the full podcast on YouTube:

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