You are Blocked!
Blocked by NDTV, now this is a unique situation, one can understand a person being blocked by another for being abusive or argumentative. Wonder since when organization have developed sensitivities and how I managed to hurt their finer feeling through my tweets? The other important aspect is that charges are being paid to cable operator for receiving NDTV signals.
What makes NDTV so insecure? Why this paranoia being displayed by NDTV? Has the credibility deficit been transferred from staffer to organization? What will this achieve? Is the channel now caught in a downward spiral? Mistakes inadvertent or deliberate are on the rise, have been duly noted and recorded. The issue will remain and will have to be confronted by the channel, blocking solves nothing.
Last Saturday I was motoring along blissfully on twitter the day had been one of leisurely pace Presidential polls was the all consuming topic, then in the evening there was a this tweet from NDTV.
Found this again to be a result of real poor editorial responsibility. Decided to log on to NDTV on twitter and see if more such tweets could be located and to my surprise what do I encounter. Yes what you just read above.
Let’s focus on and place NDTV under the scanner, see what we discover during this process. One of the oldest in the trade is NDTV which has been on the scene for over two decade in the current avatar and before that as Starnews. Most of the senior editors in Electronic media are a product of this channel. However we seem to gravitate towards a select few and have reposed our undying faith in them for honest and unbiased reportage.
Such a surfeit of channel automatically means intense competition for viewership, and a need to carve a niche for them selves to ensure not just retaining the existing viewer, constant accrual in numbers to stay on top of the leader board.
Let’s start by examining what issues NDTV raises regularly? What they mean and how they enhance the viewership for NDTV? Instead of writing about those issues let me post videos on those subjects.
“The Swiss vote in favour of banning the construction of minarets has shocked many in Europe. The Muslim community in France, the biggest in Europe, says it's a humiliation for Muslims living in the continent.”
“The recent proposal in France to ban wearing burqa has once again raised a continuing question about what freedom exactly means.”
Should we not feel proud of the fact that NDTV is not just raising issue, is actually debating them? Countries involved in both events are located in Europe separated from us by minimum 6000Kms. Both are older democracies than India and if one was to be reminded, its France which gave us these three terms, Equality, Fraternity and Liberty. Ironic that we should even be attempting to preach or pass a judgment on the actions of two sovereign nations. So what that NDTV for us.
Left Right & Centre: As the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 approaches, we debate: From Opposition to a mosque near Ground Zero, to Quran burning day - is Islamophobia on the rise?
Here is another example of our most seasoned channel bringing to us and telling us how America is behaving and being intolerant. A country, where democracy was being practiced even before, we had attained our Independence. Our brand of secularism should be exported to all these countries.
Amid the unending violence in Kashmir and the BJP's opposition to autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, NDTV debates Omar Abdullah's tenure as chief minister and the Central Government's approach to the vexed problem.
Kashmir has been on the edge over the past two months. Over 60 civilians, mostly youngsters, have been killed and hundreds injured in incidents of incessant stone pelting and police firing. Youngsters of all hues from Kashmir join the debate on NDTV on the way to find peace in the Valley.
Yes this is an important and an emotive issue which has been hanging fire for over six decades and needs to be settled expeditiously. NDTV does bring to us important domestic issue. The big Pakistan debate on the Mumbai attacks.
Those who wish to see the other 4 parts of the videos may click the link provided.
Here again the expertise and the concern for good neighbourly relationship and also focus on India’s foreign relations is comprehensively being dealt with. This is the advantage of more than two decades of experience that NDTV has.
Post expose of Radia Tapes this is what transpired on Air in NDTV Studio.
Those who wish to see the other 3 parts of the videos may click the link provided.
"Barkha Dutt tries to defend herself. While I don't feel that the real questions were answered satisfactorily, it was a Bold but useless effort by Barkha Dutt. Main problem for her is that she can't change her pro congress & anti BJP image. That's the main cause people fail to believe her. NDTV is exposed." These are words of the person who uploaded the videos on youtube.
We have to admire this channel for being upfront and unsparing to its own staff and ruthlessly exposing her to a select panel of journalists. The only discordant note that is struck is no alleged accused has ever been permitted to chose the forum, conduct his/her own trial be the judge and pronounce the judgment as well. Guess surprises never cease and there is always a first time for all things in life.
Ever since this incident, NDTV’s relationship with its viewers has not been the same. The basis of this relationship like all others is Trust, takes years to build seconds to destruct. This is not all Barkha Dutt has also faced protests at India Gate in New Delhi when she attempted to host some kind of a show. Public anger has not subsided towards her rather it has also enveloped the channel.
Barkha - Now You Must Resign: The Buck Stops Here.
NDTV Barkha Dutt was holding a debate on the news channel. The issue was corruption where she was asking eminent persons if they would resign in face of allegations of corruption against them. Watch the video where in the 40th minute Swami Agnivesh asks her what would be her position on the issue. Barkha has been accused of political leanings in the multi-crore 2G scam.
This is one question which still bothers most of us, why has the person in question continued to be in service of this channel? When other named in the same Radia tapes were dealt with differently than her. Credibility of the news channel is a very important factor once that is damaged there is very little that remains. The person and the channel may exist, what good is that existence when everyone looks at you with suspicion?
Freedom of Speech: How far can we go?
The Big Fight: India is a democratic country and we do have a right to freedom of speech. But what are its restrictions. We debate.
This is what any self respecting channel should always be striving for that is protecting and propagating our Freedom of Speech and Expression. Are we not really blessed that we have NDTV to do this for us? It’s been the vanguard for protecting our fundamental rights as bestowed by the Constitution of India.
The only problem in this simple equation is what NDTV preaches so vociferously, demands with utmost vehemence, does not afford to others the same freedom of speech and expression.
I have lodged an official complaint with the channel and have also sent an e-mail to Dr. Prannoy Roy seeking his intervention to inform me the reasons/justification for this illegal censorship and denial of my fundamental rights.
From: anil kohli To: Prannoy Roy Sent: Monday, 18 June 2012 10:01 PM Subject: Re : Your channel's @ndtv blocked me on twitter.
Dear Dr. Prannoy.Roy,
I hope all is well at your end.
Have been following you for a very very long time and have always admired the work done by you and your team starting from The world This Week programme to the current avatar NDTV.
You have always stayed steadfast in your support for Free Speech and Expression. It's indeed commendable, when most others would have ejected the staffer for alleged unethical professional conduct, you afforded an opportunity to your staffer to present the other side of the story, before a select panel of journalists. That of course is another matter the defendant was also the presiding officer and verdict pronounced by self was "Error of Judgment".
The important point is that you supported the right to Free speech & expression as bestowed on all Indians by the Constitution of India. Then why is the same right not been extended to me? Why has your channel NDTV blocked me on Twitter? After all I do pay the cable operator charges for receiving NDTV. Official complaint filed via feedback to NDTV.
Does this act not tantamount to unauthorized censorship?
I am sure you would support me, when I wish to express my opinion on any matter or news that your channel broadcasts, NDTV's presence on Twitter is to get feedback from viewers to enhance the quality of your product.
No I am not in any way asking you to intervene and have this undone, believe me there is nothing missing in my existence with the current situation vis a vis NDTV.
The only purpose is to apprise you of what is happening and the intolerance being practiced by some one in your esteemed channel. Wish you could revert with reasons/ justifications for this unacceptable act. Maybe I am being too optimistic in expecting a response from you, any way I still remain hopeful that you will respond.
This e-mail will also be posted on my blog so that millions of others who feel strongly about freedom of speech and expression can read about this and record their view. The same views will continue to be forwarded to you without any editing. Sincerely Anil Kohli P.S. Screen shots attached
It is incomprehensible a channel with over 20years of existence lack the courage to face truth, instead resorts to indiscriminate censorship by blocking those who express honest views and expose their mistakes.
Let me conclude this article with firm commitment to all those who do record their views on this article the same will be forwarded without editing to Dr. Prannoy Roy of NDTV. So that he may continue to strive and protect our right to free speech and expression
Latest update on 23rd Sept 2012
Info provided by @barbarindian Check out NDTV secular filter:
http://bit.ly/Pcv7BQ TOI: http://bit.ly/RQv3XP Hindu: http://bit.ly/UGAPji
Coimbatore: A young
man murdered his girlfriend by setting her on fire in Coimbatore in
Tamil Nadu after her parents refused to give their consent for the duo's
marriage. NDTV
COIMBATORE:
A 21-year-old youth, jilted by love, killed himself on Saturday evening
after stabbing his classmate to death and burning her body using
kerosene. The victim's 48-year-old mother, Latha Menon, is now battling
for life at a private hospital after sustaining more than nine stab
injuries when she tried to protect her daughter. The incident occurred
at Thoppil Nagar, a residential area in Vadavally on the
Coimbatore-Maruthamalai Road. TOI
A
21-year-old management student of a city college murdered his
classmate, stabbed her mother and immolated himself at her residence at
Thoppil Nagar in Vadavalli on Saturday evening. Hindu:
Latest update on 26th Sept 2012
Latest update on 11th Dec 2012
Latest update as on 20thJuly 2012
NDTV exhibiting pathological hatred towards Mr. Narendra Modi and Gujarat for no apparent reason. Twisting news to create an impression that a planned travel to Japan is a result of violence at Suzuki plant in Haryana. This is not just unacceptable it is disgraceful.
Latest update on 23rd Sept 2012
Info provided by @barbarindian Check out NDTV secular filter:
http://bit.ly/Pcv7BQ TOI: http://bit.ly/RQv3XP Hindu: http://bit.ly/UGAPji
Latest update on 26th Sept 2012
