The story, the spin and NDTV
Thanks to JKV and Sudhir Kumar for alerting me to this nugget (UPDATE: Credit for picking this story must go to Venkat Kumar. Thanks).
From a PTI news-story filed by a staff writer (6th Aug ’10; 14:21 hrs IST; emphasis added):
Alappuzha (Ker), Aug 6 (PTI) The right hand of a 24-year-old man was nearly severed by a gang, allegedly to wreck revenge for his questioning one of them for teasing his cousin sister near Cengannur here, police said here today.
Abhilash, an autorickshaw driver, was waylaid and attacked by the gang on Wednesday night.
Police dismissed political motive behind the crime.
According to police, Abhilash incurred the wrath of one of those in the gang for making teasing comments at his sister a few weeks back.
This was suspected to be the motive behind the attack on Abhilash and his relatives who were going in the autorickshaw.
The first thing that struck me as odd was the reference to “political motive” in the report. Was Abhilash a political activist? a local leader? a party functionary? Did his attackers belong to a political party? any particular group? Had Abhilash made any political remarks? Had the group that attacked him made any political remarks?
The NDTV report quoted the same PTI story (“updated” 6th Aug 16:27 IST ) but inserted some seemingly innocuous words (emphasis added):
Alappuzha , Kerala:Â The right hand of a 24-year-old man was cut off by a gang of miscreants to take revenge for his questioning one of them for teasing his cousin sister some time back near Cengannur in Alappuzha district.
Abhilash, an autorickshaw driver, was waylaid and attacked on Wednesday night by the gang.
Some of the men, who attacked Abhilash were RSS-BJP workers but police dismissed political motive behind the crime.
According to police, Abhilash incurred the wrath of one of those in the gang for making lewd comments at her sister a few weeks back.This was suspected to be the motive for springing the attack on Abhilash and his relatives who were going in the autorickshaw.
Sadly, it failed to shed any light on the questions that were bothering me. Worse, it raised another question: What was the reason for mentioning that the men who attacked Abhilash were RSS-BJP workers?
Was it that this was just another incident of attacks by “RSS-BJP workers”? Had Abhilash done something to anger the “RSS-BJP workers”? And how many of those who attacked were RSS-BJP workers? one or more? How many attackers were there in the first place? and how many other such “attacks” by “RSS-BJP workers” had been reported?
Predictably, no answers…but the “damage” may have been done. The incident is likely to be added to the list of “Hindutva Terror” activities.
P.S. None of the other reports of this attack appear to mention any political party. That said, I am very keen to hear from readers in Kerala and/or those who follow Malayalam news-sites and/or channels whether there is more to this story. Thanks.
Related Posts: This is beyond funny… and Exploding the Myth of “Hindutva Terrorâ€
This is really ridiculous. I don’t know where we are moving. Everywhere we see corruption, poverty and miss-management of resources. We have really a weak political system and I appreciate this website for making people aware of every happening.
Sir, firstly one small correction. The topic was first brought up by @vengdu on twitter. I saw Sudhir’s tweets and then picked it up. Request you to add Vengdu’s name. We were only picking it up from him. Sudhir also sent mails to PTI and NDTV asking for clarification. I guess he is awaiting reply. I am sure he as well as we all know if there would be any reply.
What is worse is Siddharth Varadarajan, yes the Ramnath Goenka Award winner, justified that NDTV story is true version. Heres his tweet
http://twitter.com/svaradarajan/status/20463778183
When we asked him how he can prove that NDTV’s story is true while NDTV itself didnt post any evidence, he diverted the topic to whether or not RSS/BJP can do such things. Even after persistently asking him to come to the original point, he has not responded.
A lot of others too posted the question to NDTV editors via twitter. One such example:
PTI: http://bit.ly/9JoCqd Indian Express: http://bit.ly/ayHbvJ CNN-IBN: http://bit.ly/antUOv but @NDTV adds RSS-BJP!! http://bit.ly/ahNd35
Every other news channel has reported what PTI reported except NDTV.
On whether Malayalam news sites reported, Offstumped pointed us to this piece
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=96117
Mr. Varadarajan pointed to Mangalam, another Kerala news site, but the post recorded that it was posted at 5:45 PM. So, we do not know if they picked up the story from NDTV. However, there is a certain need for clarification from NDTV whether there was a goof up on this or they do have evidence.
If they do not have any evidence but dont admit that there was a goof up, it can clearly be viewed as a case of intentional defamation of BJP/RSS and there is a clear case for BJP to come out in public about Media’s bias against BJP.
Thanks Jay, Vivek…
As I mentioned on the facebook page, this is getting curiouser and curiouser… Apparently S Vardarajan tweeted that the report in NDTV was the *full* report and everyone else had used an edited version of PTI’s story.
Which begs several questions: 1] Why would everyone but NDTV edit those few words? 2] Why did PTI include the sentence in the first place if the motive was *not* political?
Somehow it seems hard to believe that this was just an innocently reported incident. Thanks.
Shantanu: I have not seen the news prominently in any of the news channels or TNIE. There was a passing reference in some of the local news channels (I don’t remember exactly which channel it is). However, one thing sure if it is the RSS/BJP they would have celebrated it and crying hoarse over it. Even today there is no mention of it in the news (local) channels.
Thanks for this post.
Will inform about this to maximum number of people.
Thanks again.
Read the story and shake and bang
All: Pl read Sudhir Kumar’s post on this from which the following extract:
Pls read foll. link from Intellibriefs: http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/08/arrest-of-some-hindus-as-terrorists.html
The fraud of “Hindu Terrorism” is spelled out clearly here.
This story exposes the NDTV that proclaims itself to be more independent than other channels. I had always suspected it to be a ruling party mouthpiece (but slightly better than Doordarshan) but you provide the proof.
There are many such double faces in the media, particularly visual media as it has a far wider reach.
NDTV = Nehru Dynasty TV. A sophisticated one, but no less biased.
Let’s not forget their shehnanigans during the Kandahar Hijacking and ShankaraCharya Trial. When it comes to ‘Hindutva Terror’ all their reports are like PR releae of the Govt agencies.
That is NDTV. Unless you want to read or watch fiction of “secular” nature, why would you go there?
@Sid: “Unless you want to read or watch fiction of “secular†nature, why would you go there?” …
Good one! 🙂
Old hat. Sometimes, I wonder whether NDTV pays you and others for publishing such pieces from time to time. For them, this must be a nice method of getting more eyeballs. All they have to do is to have a naughty mention of RSS BJP and get the crowd thronging to watch how bad NDTV is!!
Sid said:
“That is NDTV. Unless you want to read or watch fiction of “secular†nature, why would you go there?”
Oh no, not me. I blog here not at NDTV. I have no intention of either increasing their TRP ratings or web traffic.
Besides, I campaign against TV. I ask my friends and family to read books, blogs and Vernacular press. Atleast vernacular press has finger on the pulse of the population. In fact IMO they are far superior to ELM.
A quick update:
I asked Barkha this yesterday:
@BDUTT I mailed and also have asked you here, why there is a discrepancy in a PTI report and NDTV report? Do you wish to clarify?
To which she immediately replied:
@ssudhirkumar which report.. no idea
http://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/20689594438
I sent her the links again. More than a couple of them RT’ed. It’s been more than 24 hours. Have asked for one more clarification. But ….
– Sudhir
The more you tarnish RSS and BJP you get more thrill. Some sick and perverted minds are like that. These anti-social elements make the minds of entire public polluted with blatant lies. This is Freedom the Freedom of Press?
When reporter’s hands will be chopped off by Muslim terrorist it will be Allah’s punishment. You can never improve these fools.
Glad to announce that our expose has been published in Vijay Karnataka, a leading newspaper in Karnataka 🙂
http://twitpic.com/2gpwl4
A gist of the article, in English is here: http://bit.ly/adjL8f (gist via @KiranKS)
– Sudhir
Fantastic Sudhir…great work and well done!
Putting these 2 links here for the record…
***
An IT Commissioner files application in 2G case alleging involvement of NDTV and P. Chidambaram
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.com/2011/11/it-commissioner-files-application-in-2g.html
The application can be accessed here:
http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/73739445?access_key=key-22v06chlxx0d0txj7rth
Also read:
NDTV-ICICI loan chicanery saved Roys
JOYEETA BASU & PRAYAAG AKBAR New Delhi | 4th Dec
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/ndtv-icici-loan-chicanery-saved-roys
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I need someone with some time on their hands to dig deep into this. If you can help, please send me an email JaiDharma AT gmail.com
Thanks