IMW
Indian Media Watch
"The Hindu" Newspaper
Hindu Voice to sue 'The Hindu'
The Hindu’s Propaganda Machine
16.2.2004
Laura Kelly
MEDIA CRITIC
‘Leftist windbags’ (that is how Sita Ram Goel used to call them) write
without relent.The Sunday magazine of the Hindu is a daisy cutters,
unleashed by Marxist mercenaries, to take on unsuspecting readers. The
Hindu of Feb 15 carried three articles by a] Ranjit Hoskote "Enemies
of Cultural Freedom", B] by Vasanthi Sundaram who interviewed that
perverted old bird M.F.Hussein "In Conversation with the
Misunderstood painter begins the article". She dares not ask those
uncomfortable "Hard Talk" BBC type questions, of Tim Sebastian,
to the old bird who pretends to be dumb. Even school going children are
smart nowadays than the so-called interviewers of The Hindu. C] The third
a mischievous piece "Classics Revisited" A week end series
"Lost Temples of India", in the 'learning channel', prompted
says the author to actually look around to see if the temples were still
there”. She could not have exposed her ignorance better.The author
says:” I am a non-resident Indian…... in my Boston home where I sat
watching the “learning channel”, one Sunday. She adds “ The lost
Temples of India” was being aired as part of the “Mysteries of
Asia”. As a city kid from non religious Hindu family, I was dragged to
temples on rare occasions my family went, but the title of the episode
disconcerted me”. Then she asks a dumb question "Can Temples be
lost"? If she really wanted to know about the lost temples she could
have read the books of Sita Ram Goel. "What happened to the Hindu
Temples" Volume 1 and Volume 2, the one stop document on the
destruction of over 3000 Hindu Temples at the hands of Islamic vandals.
Magazine url:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mag/index.htm
Articles Urls:
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/02/15/stories/2004021500280100.htm
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/02/15/stories/2004021500360200.htm
http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/02/15/stories/2004021500110400.htm
sincerely,
Laura kelly
Press has all the freedom to be free
Editorial - Samachar - By M.V.Kamath
When the Tamil Nadu Assembly ordered the arrest of six senior journalists,
including two top editors of the 125-year old Chennai daily The Hindu and
the editor of the DMK mouthpiece Murasoli on a charge of breach of
privilege and "gross contempt" of the House through an editorial
on 25 April 2003, it threw the entire media in the country in a giant
upheaval.
To a man the Press in India rose up against the orders of the Tamil Nadu
Assembly Speaker and the case had then to be finally decided by the
Supreme Court which stayed the arrest of the journalists. In ordering the
arrest of the journalists the speaker had quoted Article 194 of the
Constitution which merely protects Assembly members' rights to speak out
their minds without fearing summons from courts. As the Article put it:
"There shall be freedom of speech in the Legislature of every
State".
In effect what it means is that an Assembly member can say anything
without being dragged into a court of law. But that does not necessarily
mean that the member cannot be criticised by the media which, has under
Article 19, "the right to freedom of speech and expression", a
point raised in the Supreme Court by The Hindu's counsel, Harish Salve.
But the speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly thought otherwise.
In claiming the right to have the journalists arrested he argued that
"the powers, privileges and immunities under Article 194 of the
Constitution are to secure this independent functioning (of the Assembly)
and cannot in any way be abrogated by the Press in an attempt to obtain to
itself the role of ultimate arbiter".
The media, it need hardly be said, is not a court. It cannot
"punish" any member of the Legislature. To that extent it cannot
possibly be said that the media is "abrogating" the rights of
such a member. What The Hindu did was merely to be critical of the
Jayalalithaa Government of whose "crude use of state power", the
paper said, "against various sections including political opponents
and the independent media shows a contempt for the democratic spirit that
is deeply disturbing". What is wrong with saying that? The Hindu, in
a sharply worded editorial had also drawn attention of its readers to
"a far more serious attack launched (by Jayalalithaa) against her
political opponents within the State in the form of prosecutions, arrests
and detentions". And the paper added: The media, too, have come under
pressure with a slew of defamation cases that are quite
unparalleled".
The Hindu, for instance, was under attack for using words like
"incensed", "fumed", "diatribe" in reporting
some of Jayalalithaa's utterances in the Assembly. If Jayalalithaa sounded
as if she was incensed, why shouldn't the media say so? The order of
arrest, of course, was made not by Jayalalithaa, but by the speaker of the
Tamil Nadu Assembly, on the grounds that the paper's editorial shook
"the very foundation of the Legislature which is the cornerstone of a
democracy".
According to the Speaker, if one strongly questions the way a Chief
Minister speaks in the Legislature, it shakes the very foundation of
democracy in India. Surely, Indian democracy is not all that weak? Is
there no limit to the powers that a Legislature can legitimately exercise?
Is the arrest of an editor or a reporter the immediate response of the
speaker in the event of Legislature's `privileges' seen to be questioned?
One can understand a reporter being on the mat for wrongful reporting.
There have been examples of this in the past as in the instance of Blitz
(1961), Indian Express (1964), The Times of India (1965), The Statesman
and Hindustan Times (1973), Hindustan Times again (1979), The Hind
Samachar (1980) and even All India Radio (1980).
With the best of intentions and the height of experience, a reporter can
err. In many such instances the paper and the reporter got off lightly
with an apology and the promise of issuing a correction. No reporter worth
his salt deliberately indulges in misreporting. Indeed, there have been
cases where a Legislature has been somewhat benign and found no real
breach in privileges as in the instance of Malayala Manorama (1966), The
Statesman (1966) and AINA (1966). Even Jayalalithaa has been quoted by the
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker as having "Graciously suggested that no
punishment be imposed" in another breach of privilege case more
recently.
Sometimes a Legislature may even refuse to take note of an alleged
instance of breach of privilege on the ground that it is below its
dignity. In a recent article in The Hindu, Rajiv Dhavan has drawn the
readers' attention to such an instance as the Printed Pamphlet case
(1960). But it would seem from recent events that the Tamil Nadu Assembly
is particularly sensitive to what it considers are breaches of its
privileges.
Thus in 1985 it punished A. Paulraj, editor of Vaniga Ottruma for making
derogatory comments about its members. Again, in 1987 it sentenced S.
Balasubramanian, editor of Ananda Vikatan for what the Legislature felt
was a derogatory cartoon. Dhavan, in mentioning this case has been quick
to point out that in a 1994 judgment, a full Bench of Madras High Court
ruled that there had been a gross violation of law as well as the
principles of natural justice in the punishment handed out in that case
and even ordered a token monetary compensation of a thousand rupees to
Balasubramanian.
What is sad to realise is that while the Parliament, the Judiciary and the
Executive have a lot of protection under the Constitution, the so-called
Fourth Estate, namely the media, enjoys no protection whatsoever! What
sort of democracy is this in which the media which, in another sense, is
truly representative of the people, has to be careful to watch its words
while an MLA can get away with almost everything? Sure, the media should
not quote words or statements made in the Legislature which have been
formally expunged by the speaker. And if the media crosses that particular
Laxman Rekha, it cannot be let off all that easily. There are rules that
even the media has to obey and it is nobody's argument that the media
should go unpunished in such instances. The argument in this, the latest
attack on the media that has been made is that "the Hon'ble Chief
Minister had absolutely no part individually in this decision".
May be she didn't. But considering the manner in which the Tamil Nadu
government has been moving aggressively against the media in many cases,
many citizens may reserve their judgement. The Constitution, incidentally
states that "the powers, privileges and immunities of a House of the
Legislature of a State, and of the members and the committees of a House
of such Legislature, shall be such as may from time to time be defined by
the Legislature by law and, until so defined, shall be those of the House
of Commons of the Parliament of the United kingdom and of its members and
committees..." Very interesting.
In his article Rajeev Dhavan notes that in 1967, the House of Commons in
England expressed concern about arbitrary procedures followed in privilege
cases. More significantly, he pointed out, "the Lord Nicholls Joint
Committee of 1997-1999 for both the House of Parliament recommended that
the Legislature's power to imprison for contempt be abolished and its
penal powers transferred to courts while retaining the power to
fine". "The world" Dhavan added, "has moved on from
empowering over-sensitive legislatures, controlled by majoritarian parties
exercising medieval and archaic powers over the personal liberties of
citizens. The power to fine or imprison for breach of privilege should be
abolished". Indeed, the NDA Government would render signal service to
democracy if it suitably amends the Constitution to do away with the
current powers exercised by legislatures. They are, to say the least,
medieval.
Let this be remembered: in the end it is the people who are supreme. It is
the people who elect legislators and not the other way around. It is the
vote of the people that enable parties to form governments. It is
ultimately people, people who matter, not legislators and not political
parties. And the voice of the media is the voice of the people. Ergo, the
media should have the right to be critical of legislators many of whom
have brought shame not only on legislatures but also on the state and the
very concept of democracy itself.
What can one possibly say of legislators who tear microphones and hurl
them at their opponents? What can one say of legislators who hurl chairs
and other movable properties in criminal assault on those with whom they
are not in agreement? We are told that Jayalalithaa took offence at such
words as "Fumed", "incensed", "stinging"
"diatribe" in a reporter's description of a speech she made in
the House. She was also upset that her tone was described as
"high-pitched". If high pitched it was, why shouldn't it be so
described?
Is praise is all that she wants? The media recently drew attention to a
speech made by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, P.S. Ram Mohan Rao to the
Assembly in which he described Jayalalithaa as "Hon'ble Chief
Minister" thirty times, and drew attention to her "untiring
efforts", "steely resolve", "bold agenda",
"dynamic and strong leadership" etc etc, no doubt with great
feeling. The Governor's speech, needless to say, was drafted in the Chief
Minister' office.
Dear dear, Jayalalithaa. What it all shows is that she has no sense of
humour. Politicians without a sense of humour must not get into politics
but should stay at home and mind the cats. But the pathetic performance of
the Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker let us presume that the Hon'ble Chief
Minister has had no hand in it invites not so much censure but a good
laugh. Attempting to hurt the media is hurting one's own legs. Kill the
media and it is like killing democracy. And it is time politicians all
over the country and not just in Tamil Nadu are informed of that truth. We
demolish democracy at our own peril
Chronology of "The Hindu" Newspaper's mis-reporting, confusing readers, semi-truth reporting . It's a mater of utter disgrace for N.Ram and his team .
MediaWatch
'The Hindu' : Reporting in favour of lawlessness
insrvvx@langate.gsu.edu
The English language news paper " The Hindu" published from
Chennai does it again. This time reporting in favour of lawlessness and
intended violence.
In reporting the FIR served against the State Secretariat employees, its
reporter { who is perhaps fond of TV serials] goes overboard in reporting
an emotional packed drama of the employees , about milk poured on Gods and
coconut broken etc.
The newspaper did not even have elementary " news sense" in
terms of exactly explaining the nature of FIR filed against these "
union" leaders/followers.
They were not allowed inside office since cases had been registered
against them under Section 4 (participating in strike) or Section 5
(inciting strike) or both of the Essential Services Maintenance
Act.--which has been upheld by the Courts as legal.
This important and major offence of these unlawful activists has been
totally hidden by the report published by "The Hindu"
The English language newspaper published from Chennai namely the Hindu has
become a willing partner to illegality and law breakers by not reporting
about their crimes against the rule of law but only reporting sensational
items like breaking coconut by the unlawful activists to temples.
The news sense of "The Hindu" is touching the rock bottom by its
refusal to report events and give views in its editorial columns.
RV
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003072606020400.htm
From a day of hope to an evening of despair
By Radha Venkatesan
Chennai July 25. Their morning of hope swiftly slipped into despair. Tears
of joy dissolved into cries of agony. Thanksgiving sessions before
office-side temples turned into prayers for survival. "Never have I
experienced so much suffering. Will I ever get my job back?," sobbed
a woman officer at the Secretariat.
Only this morning did this 40-plus woman and hundreds of her colleagues,
who had been dismissed for participating in the recent strike by
government employees, break coconuts and poured packetsful of milk at the
`Naga Thevadhai' (snake Goddess) temple outside the Secretariat to
"thank" the deity for their getting back the lost jobs.
Visibly elated at their return to work after a 23-day ordeal, they walked
into the Secretariat, flashing identity cards to security personnel. But
their happiness lasted barely an hour. As they excitedly entered their
department offices, they were told, "wait, you cannot rejoin
work". Why? The answer came after desperate pleas. "We are
checking if your name figures in the list of employees against whom first
information reports have been filed".
By 11 a.m., it was clear that the FIRs were filed against nearly all 3,041
Secretariat employees, including 1,500 women, who had been dismissed but
not jailed. "Initially, we thought that only a few employees faced
criminal proceedings. But when we saw the list sent by the Public
department, we found that cases were registered against almost all
dismissed staff," admits a department secretary.
They had all been booked under Sections 4 and 5 of the Essential Services
Maintenance Act. "Why are we being targeted," a few women
wailed.
Woman hospitalised
After hearing the news, a staff member of the Health department, S.
Deivanayagi, complained of chest pain and was rushed to the Royapettah
Government Hosptial, where she is undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, after a couple of hours of wait, several women staff members
headed back home, ruing their fate. But most of the dismissed men stayed
on in the Secretariat complex. For, they were apprehensive that they would
be arrested following the filing of FIR.
"We are scared we will be arrested," lamented an office
assistant at the Public department.
They left the premises only after a delegation of key employees unions,
JACTTEO-GEO, met the Chief Secretary, Lakshmi Pranesh, in the afternoon,
and conveyed to her the employees' apprehensions.
Women staff members from various departments also met the Chief Secretary
and desperately pleaded for their reinstatement. "She only asked us
to wait until the Chief Minister decided on the issue. Our fate now lies
in the hands of the Chief Minister," a staff member of the Tamil
Development department said, emerging from the Chief Secretary's office.
FIRs served
Later in the evening, the police knocked at the doors of several of the
dismissed employees at the Secretariat, Ezhilagam and the Directorate of
Public Examinations in Chennai.
But, this time, it was only for serving FIR copies.
"The
Hindu" confused about legal matters
The English language newspaper published from Chennai is confused about
legal matters-- and it is reflected in its news reporting.
The court in Coimbatore has convicted Al-Umma activists in a murder case.the
newspaper mentions that the " accused" are coming out of the
court after their convictions. Good god, the newspaper in its
chaotic reporting did not identify them as the judges or the murdered
persons.It is taught in the first semester course in a Journalism
school-- including the Columbia school where from the current Chief Editor
has graduated-- that once judgement is pronounced the status of the
accused is " elevated" to convicts unless they are released.
After conviction, to continue to mention them as accused is actually
contempt of the judicial process. The standard of reporting by this paper
is declining on a daily basis. May be the newspaper can go in for a
training programme to its reporters and editors including the
Chief-Editor.
www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003073005520400.htm
The Al_Umma founder-leader, S. A. Basha (in white dress), and Mohammed
Subair, two of the nine accused in the Hindu Munnani activist, Veerashiva
murder case, coming out of the district sessions court complex in
Coimbatore, after they were sentenced to life term on Tuesday. — Photo:
The English language newspaper published from Chennai corrects itself on an elementary matter of identifying the Governor of the State of Tamil Nadu from where the paper is published.
One only hope that this newspaper " corrects" itself on major issues pointed out by many including us on important journalistic practices.
RV
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003073003970400.htm
A correction
The report titled "TN Governor's plainspeak on NTR'' and datelined Eluru ( The Hindu, July 26, 2003 ) had serious factual errors. It wrongly described the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Mr. P.S. Ramamohan Rao, as "a former classmate of N.T. Rama Rao.''
It also misquoted him as saying that NTR was "not up to the mark'' and "I don't perceive him as a great Chief Minister.'' The reference to "a former classmate of N.T.Rama Rao'' was an error introduced while editing. What the Governor actually said in Telugu was:
"I came to know NTR from the time he became the Chief Minister in January 1983 and our association continued till his death in January 1996. Till he became Chief Minister, we did not know each other. In fact, our relationship started on a hostile note as I was the first senior officer to be transferred by him, after he became Chief Minister. Based on some inputs from one of his Cabinet colleagues that I was inefficient and corrupt, he shifted me out without giving me a posting. Then, on his own, he cancelled the orders and after that our relationship became warm and reasonably intimate. We had differed on many issues and still he used to give me considerable respect. At one point of time, his well wishers had even suggested my appointment as his Secretary on the ground that I could tender him fearless advice. Many may not consider him the best of our Chief Ministers for various reasons. But nobody can dispute the fact that he brought recognition to the Telugu-speaking people, not only in India, but in the world. Therefore, the management of C.R. Reddy College of Engineering deserves to be complimented and congratulated for naming the I.T. & Computer Lab after him.''
The errors are regretted and the record is being set straight in this correction.
Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu
China 'illegally claiming' 90,000 sq. km. in Arunachal
China
'illegally claiming' 90,000 sq. km. in Arunachal
The English language newspaper published from Chennai removes doubts.
There was some controversy if it is published from Beijing or Chennai.
some claimed that it is physically published from Chennai but "
spiritually" or " ideologically" from China.
It gives a news item regarding illegal occupation of our territory by
China by putting the words illegal under quotes.
For consistency it is important for this news paper to put under quote
whenever it writes about J&K since that is claimed by Pakistan.
Read on --The whole report from our Parliament is written from the
perspective of a Beijing Editor of the Chennai Paper. All are under quotes
to prove the objectivity of this paper in the" border dispute"
with China. This is how seeds of doubt are sown in the minds of youngsters
in the garb of objectivity. The paper built over more than hundred years
has become handmaiden of Chinese Politburo--sad day for Indian Journalism.
www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003073104941100.htm
China 'illegally claiming' 90,000 sq. km. in Arunachal
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
NEW DELHI JULY 30. China "illegally claims" approximately 90,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in the eastern sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Digvijay Singh, informed the Lok Sabha today.
"China also continues to be in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq. km in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. km of Indian territory in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to China," Mr. Singh stated.
"India and China seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question through peaceful consultations," he stated in a written response to questions.
"In the Declaration of Principles for Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation issued on June 23, 2003, during the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China, India and China have agreed that both would appoint Special Representative(s) to explore the framework of a boundary settlement, from the political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship,'' he said.
Mr. Singh's statement on China's claims on Arunachal Pradesh is a re-statement of India's old position on the boundary dispute but assumes importance given the recent Chinese statement that Beijing did not recognise Arunachal as part of India.
Tamil Nadu Govt employee strike coverage
The English Language newspaper " The Hindu" published from Chennai does it again. This time it gives an heading to a news item which is exactly opposite of what the news item convey.
It says in a news item, that the Re-instated staff were not paid by the Tamil Nadu Govt [ after the recent strike] but the news suggests that those who were not Re-instated were not paid.
The elementary lesson in Journalism covered in course 101 in the first semester in any school of Journalism --including the Columbia School of Journalism from where the current Editor in chief has graduated--is that the headings to a news item should communicate the content of the news. But in the case of this news paper the heading is exactly opposite of what is contained. The paper in its enthusiasm to support the " struggle of the proletariat government servants" has goofed up in presenting facts. It employs a Special correspondent to publish such mis-leading news. The standard of this news paper which is more than hundred years old is sadly declining on a daily basis due to its partisan coverage, partial facts and mis-leading head lines.RV
www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003080106160400.htm
By Our special Correspondent
No pay for reinstated staff
Despite the impasse caused by the strike affecting the functioning of treasuries, the Government today managed to disburse salaries to over 11 lakh employees, who had not participated in the strike, and pensions to over 4 lakh people.
There was a nominal increase in their pay as the Government had effected a hike in dearness allowance last month, a few days before the key employees union launched an indefinite strike.
Most of the 1.6 lakh reinstated staff members too got their pay.
Official sources said their salaries were released after deducting their contribution to the family benefit fund. As some departments which did not present the bills in time, a few hundred reinstated employees returned without a pay packet. They would get their pay either by passing supplementary bills or along with the next month's pay.
For the over 14,000 yet-to-be reinstated employees, it was a month without pay and job. While the sacked employees rued their plight, 15,500 assistants and junior assistants, who were recruited temporarily on a monthly pay of Rs. 4,000, had something to smile about: they picked up their first government pay.
Amartya Sen a British Citizen wants debate with DPM ?????
The English Language news paper The Hindu published
from Chennai does not undertake any simple investigation or enquiry.
It just becomes mouth piece of left leaning intellectuals.
In a overtly " devoted" article its correspondent lavishes all
possible praise to Dr. Sen including his claim of being a proud Indian.
It was suggested earlier by many news reports that Dr. Sen is a citizen of
United Kingdom and this imply he travels to India as a "
tourists" or for specific" conferences". How come
a foreigner asks for a debate with Deputy Prime Minister of India is a
mystery which the English Language news paper Published from Chennai and
its special correspondent alone can solve for ordinary readers. The paper
should have looked into this important issue before publishing such
challenges.
www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003080205140100.htm
Ready
for debate on secularism: Amartya Sen
By Our Special Correspondent
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen in conversation with actress and MP, Shabana
Azmi, at a symposium on ``The Future of Mid-day Meals'' in New Delhi on
Friday. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt.
NEW DELHI Aug. 1. Reiterating that a "sense of disquiet"
prevailed among the minorities in this country, the Nobel laureate,
Amartya Sen, today welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani's
suggestion for an open debate on secularism.
Responding to questions on the latter's comments at a seminar on Thursday,
Prof. Sen conceded that they did disagree on the issue of secularism.
"I think secularism in India has taken a reasonably big hit lately.
The DPM does not agree and some day we will debate."
At a press conference, he welcomed Mr. Advani's suggestion for a debate on
the issue as it strengthened the country's open society of which he was
proud. "I am proud of being an Indian. We are a great country but we
should live like a great country," he said refusing to accept
suggestions that the situation for minorities was worse in neighbouring
countries such as Bangladesh. While pointing out that Bangladesh had no
record recently of communal riots, he said "I will not take
consolation from the fact that the situation is worse elsewhere."
Prof. Sen pointed out that the minorities in India were experiencing
"a sense of disquiet and uncertainty". As a result of the
polarisation of religion, people were being identified on the basis of
their faith to which he was opposed. In this context, he referred to the
U.K. where religious schools of all faiths were proliferating and children
did not have the opportunity to compare religions and take decisions on
their own.
He felt India showed its democratic muscle when the poorest electorate in
the world rejected the suspension of human rights after the emergency. But
the country needed to stretch democratic practice and freedom much
further. While proud of the country's secular traditions, he said
"stretching" was needed to make it even better.
On India's defence expenditure, he said on a per capita basis it might be
higher than in Pakistan but the total amount was much larger than in that
country. Thus, it was not correct to compare the two countries' military
expenditure on a per capita basis. Since Pakistan was overwhelmed by
India's conventional weapons superiority, it was retaining its nuclear
strike option and therefore did not agree to India's proposal for a
no-first strike pact.
On the other hand, he felt the issue of per capita military expenditure
could be used to compare the relative levels of spending on education and
health. The relative ranking there should that India had little to be
proud of, as these two social sectors were way down compared to military
expenditure, he said.
Lavishing praise on the Indian media, he said, "India is lucky to
have a vigorous press". Asked whether private ownership of media
would not lead to bias in the press, he said the danger of being critical
of private press ownership was that it could lead to arguments to support
government control on the press. "All suppression in the Soviet Union
and China was on the grounds that the private sector produces a biased
press," he said.
In this regard, he said, the critical issue was competition. There could
be different business groups presenting different points of view as in the
British press but that did not make the press useless. In fact, expansion
of media had a major role in informing the public.
'The Hindu' Newspaper -- False reporting ,Misleading titles
The English language newspaper "The Hindu" Published from Chennai commits contempt of the SC and also becomes the paper as a mouth piece of CPI[M]-- to instigate people against due process of law and one of the pillars of Indian democracy namely the judicial system.The paper which day in and day out taunts the "Sangh Parivar" to obey the Court in a matter of faith [ the birth place of Lord Rama] goes over board and publishes the incendiary and derogatory remarks of the Ex-chief Minister of West Bengal- [Jyothi Basu] equating Supreme Court of the Republic of India and the elected TN govt. with British rulers.
In any respectable school of Journalism --including the Columbia School from where the current Chief Editor of this paper has graduated--it is taught that rule of law [and majesty of judiciary] is one of the fundamental principles of modern state system and it is required by the fourth estate to recognize it and not sabotage it.But unfortunately this news paper --which is more than hundred years old-- in its enthusiasm to support the " oppressed" proletariat namely the Government employees goes over board to throw this principle to the
wind. With that the credibility and fairness of the paper is also getting lost.
Note: The Earlier Media Watch--The Hindu--news paper-- was number 26--not mentioned.
RV
www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003080805910100.htm
Protest rallies in Bengal West Bengal Government employees stage a demonstration at the Secretariat building in Kolkata on Thursday against the Supreme Court ruling that bans Government staff from taking part in strikes. — AFP
Kolkata, Aug. 7. The West Bengal Government employees, cutting across ideological affiliations, and activists of the ruling CPI(M) today marched through the streets across the State to protest against the Supreme Court ruling against strikes by Government employees. Employees belonging both to the left and right-leaning unions demonstrated at the Writers' Buildings, the high seat of State administration, as hundreds of CPI(M) activists took out processions in Kolkata and elsewhere in the State.
In the metropolis, Marxist supporters took out processions with a central rally where senior party leaders were critical of the apex court
ruling. The Labour Minister and senior CPI(M) leader, Md. Amin, told reporters at the Writers' Buildings that the right of employees to strike could not be taken away 'by anyone'. ``The working class has obtained this right through movements and will protect this right in the same manner,'' Mr. Amin said. Protestors held rallies at places to demand protection of `the right of employees to strike'. The call for `protest day' was given by the CPI(M) State secretariat yesterday. Basu's support The former West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, today came out in support of the striking employees, saying the ``State Government employees have the right to strike''. ``The West Ben gal Government has already given the Government employees the right to strike by amending the British Act,'' Mr. Basu said. ``When States like Tamil Nadu are taking away the right to strike from
their employees, the West Bengal Government has allowed its employees the right to resort to strike,'' Mr. Basu said. — PTI, UNI
The English language news Paper published from Chennai indulges in its favorite game of false reporting and misleading titles.It says that the TN government heeded the advice of SC. But a report in News Today clearly states that the learned judges mentioned to the Counsel for petitioners namely Mr. Chidambaram and others that it is not their relief but it is that of Govt of Tamil Nadu.
It is indeed sad that the news paper The Hindu and its legal correspondent should blatantly propagate false news pertaining to Supreme court since the news paper is partisan and sympathetic to the proletariat--government servants. But this news paper which has the history of more than hundred years by such false reporting is hurting its already eroded credibility and reliability. The reading public may conclude that the English language news paper The Hindu published from Chennai cannot be trusted to publish accurate and correct news. It is losing its credibility due to its loss of fair and balanced reporting. May be it is time for a training programme on " fair and accurate and balanced news reporting" for its reporters including the Chief Editor. We have provided the false claim and factual news below.
RV
The False news :'The Hindu'www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/stories/2003080607090100.htm
All but 6,072 employees to be taken back
By J. Venkatesan
NEW DELHI Aug. 5. Heeding Supreme Court advice, the Tamil Nadu Government today agreed to take back all but 6,072 sacked staff members, who included the arrested and those who indulged in violence and instigated other employees to go on strike in the first week of July.
The Factual news
www.newstodaynet.com/05aug/ld2.htm
When the counsel for various unions and federations, P Chidambaram, T R Andhiyarujina and Rajiv Dhawan expressed their gratitude to the Court for relief given to employees, the Bench said 'We have not given any relief, it is the Tamilnadu government which has given relief.'
____
Censor / suppress news items appreciative of the PM
The English language news paper The Hindu published from Chennai which claims itself to be a national news paper publishes a story about punishment meted out to a shop lifter from an obscure village in India as a lead news item. .The news item does not even have the standard juice of " caste" or "religion" which is the standard staple of the reports of this news paper. The said news item does not have any news value other than just making it appear that India is a country full of " barbarians" or " crude people"
Imagine Washington Post or New York times publishing a crude behavior of a shop keeper vis-vis a shop lifter- from Alabama or Louisiana as a lead story in the front page. What is the problem with our English Language media? Why are they pretending to be a national newspaper with a mind-set of a village tabloid? Or are they essentially village level tabloids on whom the" national" stamp has been thrust unwittingly?
www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/02101808.htm
Boy tonsured, paraded naked for taking extra book
Bhadohi (U.P.), Aug 10. (UNI): A schoolboy who moved out of a local
bookshop with an extra book in his bag was tonsured and paraded naked by
the shopkeeper, sources said today. Fifteen-year-old Ram Prakash Pali, a
grade nine student, said he unknowingly put an extra book in his bag after
buying one from the bookshop. The shopkeeper immediately caught hold of
him and got him tonsured. He later stripped the boy and paraded him
through the market. The Station Head Officer (SHO) at the Gopiganj Police
Station, however, claimed that it was a "normal incident and if
required would be taken notice of." But the boy claimed that police
were threatening him and had refused to lodge his complaint
Censor / suppress news items appreciative of the PM
Same meeting --Three reports
The Hindu Does it again
The English Language news paper published from Chennai has started to censor / suppress news items appreciative of the Prime Minister. Perhaps they have created a department of censor within the news paper in accordance with the " agenda building" platform of its new editor in Chief. The Editor in Chief in a speech at Assam has suggested " agenda building" as one of the goals as good journalism!
A meeting addressed by the PM in Rajasthan and covered by PTI is reported as " mammoth" and carried by every paper. But the news paper from Chennai does not mention that fact from the PTI report but focus on slogan shouting by some.
Has the English language news paper published from Chennai namely The Hindu--become mouth piece for the opposition or has it started censoring PTI reports to suit its political orientations. it is indeed sad that the news paper with more than hundred years of history has become partisan and employs internal censorship for wire news services.RV
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/01102107.htm
Amidst slogan-shouting by BJP dissidents demanding reservation of jobs for economically weaker among upper castes, Prime Minister Vajpayee today announced that the Centre was ready to bring a bill in the current session of Parliament for this if the Congress-led Opposition supported it.
----Vajpayee said to thunderous cheers from the crowd, which had gathered at the Amroodon Ka Bagh braving heavy downpour.
www.sulekha.com/redirectNh.asp?cid=314797
Addressing a mammoth rally on the conclusion of BJP State unit's 'Parivartan Yatra' at the Amroodon Ka Bagh here
www.rediff.com/news/2003/aug/10pm.htm
He was addressing a mammoth rally in Jaipur on the conclusion of the BJP state unit's parivartan yatra organised to kick off the party's election campaign for the assembly election in Rajastan
The Statesman news paper
The Statesman news paper published from kolkatta [ and Delhi ] cannot
distinguish between a state government and the state nor between a chief
minister and a govt press release.
It publishes a news item with a headline that" Modi attacks Bengal"
when in fact it was a press release from the Gujarat Government
criticizing the offer of the Marxist Government in West Bengal in providing
shelter / benefits to Qutubuddin--- the poster boy of post -Godhra riots.
The paper has the audacity of equating the communist government with
the state of West Bengal
The news paper Statesman lives up to its old British standard of divide
the country / community and people but sell copies of the paper. Let
truth be damned. In that sense the news paper is maintaining its policy
consistently.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=20064
Modi attacks Bengal
GANDHINAGAR, Aug. 8. — Mr Narendra Modi’s government is peeved at the
West Bengal government’s decision to provide shelter and employment to
Qutubuddin Ansari, the Ahmedabad resident who became “the face of the
riot” when he begged for his life with folded hands.
A government release said: “Bengal government’s readiness to provide
shelter to Qutubuddin reflects the Communist government’s political
intentions. The government’s heart bleeds for one who has received only
bruises, but not for the Kashmiri Pandits living on Delhi pavements.”
The government also alleged that Ansari had received offers from
certain Muslim groups in Thailand to “permanently settle” in that country. —
SNS
Media Watch : 'The Hindu' ,against it's own five principles
The English language newspaper "The Hindu"-- published from Chennai has reached the age of 125 and hence, may be becoming senile. It declared bombastically in its editorial [ celebrating 125 years] recently that it will adhere to five principles in Journalism. They are (1)" truth telling", (2)"freedom and independence",(3) "justice" ,(4)"humaneness" and (5)"contributing to the social good".
We can hence forth measure this news paper against its own claims.
The paper reports that historians asserts that ASI has twisted evidence in preparing the excavation report.
It is not " historians" but two of them.
"The Hindu" newspaper in terms of upholding " truth telling" could have published it as "two historians" since there are at least thousands of Historians in India.
It was also required of the paper to contact experts at ASI to get their reactions to this, in order to uphold " justice" which in the words of the Editorial of the paper is fairness, judged by widely accepted standards of reasonableness.
The paper does not bother to be " fair" to the archeologists particularly when it publishes the virulent attack of the historians. At least it could have tried to contact the other side and publish any refutation of the claims made by the historians.
The newspaper also does not mention anywhere in its report that the said " Historians" did represent the Babri Masjid action committee in discussions regarding the disputed structure with the other party and Government during the Prime minister ship of Chandrashekar. In other words the ' Historians" are" interested party in the dispute. This is an important fact for readers to understand the " motive" of the historians and also for readers to make their own conclusions. This fact has been hidden by the news paper. Where is " truth telling" and " justice" in this blatantly partisan reporting.
Will the news paper live up to its own stated " objectives" at least to the extent of 10 percent in its 126th year.
RV
www.hindu.com/2003/08/30/stories/2003083005580100.htm
ASI has `twisted evidence': historians
By Anjali Mody
NEW DELHI. AUG. 29. The Archaeological Survey of India has "twisted its own evidence" to reach conclusions to "support the fictions of the Sangh Parivar about the existence of a temple'', historians said at a press conference, organised by the anti-communalism group, Sahmat, here today.
Irfan Habib of the Aligarh Muslim University and Suraj Bhan from the Kurukshetra University said there was no evidence that supported the ASI's claim.
"The decisive evidence that denies the existence of a temple is the presence of animal bones throughout the site," Prof. Habib said. The ASI had not recorded the bones found in its field records although "the rules and conventions of archaeology stipulate that field records of an excavation site must cover all the evidence, not just some of it".
On a complaint, the High Court had ordered the ASI to comply, but animal bones were mentioned only once in the conclusion of the report on Page 270: "Animal bones have been recovered from various levels of different periods''.
Prof. Bhan said the ASI had failed to turn up evidence supporting the existence of a massive temple from the 9th to 12th centuries A.D. Typical temples from that period were in the `Nagar' style, which were star-shaped.
The ASI said that what it had excavated had large rectangular halls and resembled a building found in Sarnath that was accepted as a vihara or monastery, he said.
In his view what the ASI had found was, in all probability, the remains of an older mosque. Its plans, including the large halls, largely "agreed with the plan of the Babri Masjid". `Nagar' style temples, he said, had narrow chambers.
The pillar bases that the ASI has placed at the centre of its claim could also "not be relied upon". They could not all be classified as pillar bases and they did not belong to the same period.
The other criticism of the ASI report was that it had presented as a "shrine" a circular structure, about five feet in diameter, without any evidence to substantiate the claim.
"Stray," decorated stones had been presented as evidence to the existence of a temple. The only slab with an inscription, Prof. Bhan said, had been recorded as being from the 11th or 12th centuries. But on an inspection of the site in June he had found it lying face down among lime mortar filling. Ashok Dutta, an epigraphist of the Kolkata University, and an observer at the site, dated it to the 19th or 20th centuries, he said.
Prof. Habib said the ASI report also committed "period fraud", juggling its own classification of periods and layers of the excavation to give credence to its claim of a temple built in the 11th or 12th centuries.
He concluded that the Babri Masjid had been "one victim of political vandalisation" and the report showed that the "ASI was another".
The English Language news paper " the Hindu" published from Chennai has proclaimed in an Editorial on the occasion of its 125th anniversary that it will have a " template' of five principles to guide it, in the future and one of them is " humaneness". The paper made its commitment to the principle of " humaneness" " more explicit more immediate ,more wide ranging and more nuanced". Do not get worried about the bombast declaration, the paper is known for verbal diahorrea.
The paper promises one idea and delivers another. Age could be a problem!!
It gives report about animal sacrifice in temples --the day after it has been banned by the TN government--more in support of the people involved in it rather than in support of efforts of the Government. There is no sense of appreciation of such a important and far reaching effort by the state Government.
On such a huge social issue ,it expects the police to solve it in one day. Is it fair and humane on the part of the paper with reference to police and animals respectively?
Hope the paper does not restrict its definition of " humaneness" only to marxists.
RV
www.hindu.com/2003/08/30/stories/2003083005600100.htm
Animal sacrifice continues despite ban
By S. Dorairaj
A slain goat being carried away by devotees at the Pandi Muneeswarar temple on the outskirts of Madurai on Friday. - Photo: K. Ganesan
MADURAI AUG. 29. The Government's decision to ban animal and bird sacrifice in temples was put to the test the very next day of its announcement. A `sacrifice' of scores of goats and fowls at a suburban temple here today left authorities wondering whether it would be possible to put an end to the age-old custom and belief of thousands of people, who offered these creatures to fulfil their vow to the deities.
The scene of action was a private shrine, Pandi Muneeswarar temple on the outskirts of the city, where many goats and fowls were sacrificed.
Though the 100-odd shopowners, who sold puja materials, were upset at the blanket ban slapped by the Government, the devotees, who thronged the temple, close to Melamadai, remained unperturbed.
``Thousands of devotees come here daily and their number swells on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They are from different villages and towns in Tiruchi, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts.
Some of them come all the way from Chennai. But a large number of them belong to Usilampatti and adjoining villages. Most of the devotees are farmers and farmhands,'' said Pandian, a hawker selling peanuts, pointing to the villagers, who were seen worshipping Pandi Muneeswarar, Samayakaruppasamy and Andisamy, and offering birds and animals to the deities with the utmost devotion.
The devotees, who offer sacrifice, are simply fulfilling their vow-seeking the deities' grace to bless them with children or to fix elusive marriages.
Most of them offer `annadhanam', serving food, prepared with the meat of the sacrificed animals and birds, to hundreds of people at venues close to the temple on the occasions of christening of children and ear-lobe piercing.
There are separate enclosures put up by private owners for cooking meat, with charges specified for each category.
On Tuesdays, 25 goats are sacrificed on an average, and the number rises to 50 on Fridays and crosses 100 on Saturdays.
Police advice
``Today also the number did not see a drastic change. Though the police did not allow the people to sacrifice animals on the altar, the ceremony was performed at nearby venues,'' said K. Pandiselvi, a trader. The police personnel present at the temple did not arrest any person, but advised the devotees not to perform any sacrifice.
Mahamani of Melamadai, who had been engaged in slaying goat and rooster on the altar, was among those who were upset at the government warning that the offenders would be dealt with sternly. ``We have been in this job right from the days of my grandfather. We get Rs.3 for slaying a goat and Rs.2 for a rooster,'' he said.
This temple is not the only shrine where animals and birds are sacrificed.
There are several village temples, where live sacrifice has been performed. These include the Madapuram and Thayamangalam Amman temples in Sivaganga district and the Irukkankudi Mariamman temple, near Sattur in Virudhunagar district, devotees claim.
The English language news paper The Hindu published from Chennai claims that "truth telling" is one of the important templates as part of its 125th year declaration. It says further that " This newspaper ,which was also affected by the " editorializing as news reporting" virus ,is determined to buck the trend, restore the professionally sound lines of demarcation ,and strengthen objectivity and factuality in its coverage"[ this confession is Quoted from its editorial on 27th August].
But let us look at a simple news item .It is about the police " not giving
permission" to a route for a " procession" for the DMK party at
Villupuram.
The Hindu publishes the complaint by the former Minister Ponmudi--a DMK leader
which is as should be. But it could have easily contacted the police also and
published their reason. Or at least mention that they were unwilling to talk to
the paper or unavailable till going for publication etc.
That is the objective reporting. That is how NYT and WSJ function --which are
manned by many an Alumnus of the Columbia School from which the current Chief
Editor has graduated.
This newspaper need not waste the time and efforts of a special correspondent to
publish the hand outs of DMK political party. It should rather publish the why
and wherefore of a decision and then criticise it in its Editorial columns.
Other than that, the report is very confusing since it does not clarify if the
cops were preventing the original route of the procession or the alternate route
or the procession itself since the last sentence suggests that the DMK party was
agreeable to take any alternative route suggested by the cops.
It will take many years for the paper to come out of its "editorialising as
news reporting virus" [ as confessed by that Editorial of 27th August 2003]
provided this paper with more than hundred years of history is willing to
attempt
http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/05/stories/2003090505580400.htm
Police reject alternative route plan for procession
By Our Special Correspondent
VILLUPURAM Sept. 4. The former Minister, K.Ponmudi, has said the ban on a DMK
procession, scheduled for September 19 in connection with the party conference
here, "seems to have been enforced at the higher level and the police have
just acted on order."
Mr. Ponmudi said the police turned down an alternative route suggested by him
and it indicated that the police were proceeding as per the predetermined
notion. Mr. Ponmudi suggested that the procession take the Keelperumbakkam,
Thiru Vi.Ka.Nagar, K.K.Road, and Salaimedu route.
He had been seeking permission for the procession for the past one month, but at
no point of time did the police give any indication that it would be denied.
Only after the DMK president, M.Karunanidhi, inspected the venue last Monday,
did the matter precipitate, the former Minister said.
After the police denial was made known to him on Wednesday, he met both the DIG,
Kandasamy, and the Superintendent of Police, S.Nallasivam, and tried to convince
them that the DMK was ready to take any alternative route suggested by them for
the procession.
The English language news paper published from Chennai has declared in its 125th
year Editorial that" truth telling" is one of the five templates of
its future endevors.It just forgot that LeT is a proclaimed terrorist
organisation by the Government of USA and so members of that organisation are
"terrorists" and not "militants". The newspaper may not
bother about classification by the GOI since it may think it should treat GOI
and Government of Pakistan and LeT as Equal-Equal but one thought it may
consider the classification by USA and other European countries.
The news paper "The Hindu" should clarify for " truth
telling" sake when it will consider an organisation to be a Terrorist
organisation?. Is it only when classified by say Chinese Government or Govt of
Pakistan or by UN or by the Editorial Board of this news paper?
This is important since the paper wanted to cleanse itself of the virus of
" editorialising as news reporting" [ 27-08-2003] from its 125th birth
day. But the paper needs to attempt at "truth telling" some time, if
it wants to cleanse itself of the said virus.
RV
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/01042225.htm
Fierce gun battle in Kathua, SPO killed, five injured
Ghati (Kathua), Sept. 4. (UNI): Seven militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) who
are holed up in three-tier cordon for the last over 50 hours, are giving a tough
fight to the security forces as a fierce gunbattle continued today in which a
police constable was killed and five others including an army jawan were
injured.
The English Language news paper published from
Chennai has proclaimed " truth telling" as one of the templates of its
journalism from it's 125th year anniversary onwards. { see Editorial on 27th
August 2003]
But the paper lands itself on its face many times in terms of its reporting of
clashes during religious festivals.
It publishes verbatim such reports from agencies like PTI claiming that "
one Community" attacked another " community" with weapons.
The paper should realise that its Web edition could be read by people all over
the world and it is becoming a laughing stock in publishing such silly
stories--presumably to " preserve" communal amity. This paper has
accepted that the " virus of " editorialising as reporting" has
infected the vials of it and it wanted to cleanse itself from this virus. This
imply that the paper come out of this silly and false reporting. It can say that
rowdy or gangsters or criminals attacked a procession or two groups of criminals
fought pitched battles [ since those who riot are rioters and not "
belonging to a community"] instead of telling " members of one
community" etc. That may serve the cause of " truth telling" than
all these ridiculous reporting which make our news papers a laughing stock in
the international fora.
RV
http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/06/stories/2003090605710100.htm
Two hurt in clash
PTI reports from Solapur (Maharashtra):
Two persons were injured when members of two communities clashed using swords
and choppers during the Ganesh festival celebrations here on Thursday, police
said today.
Members of a particular community attacked volunteers at a Ganesh pandal with
sharp-edged weapons in Morarjipeth area of the city, they said. Six persons have
been arrested.
It wants to rid itself of the virus of " editorialising as news reporting" . One of its readers says that the five templates are like " Panch Sheel" principle enunciated in Bandung by Nehru and Cho-Enlai' { letters to editor 11-September] and the paper happily publishes such un-abashed appreciation. One only hopes that the paper remembers that after the enunciation of Panch sheel China sent its troops to occupy Indian Territory. May be the papers " Five Principles" are a ruse to bombard the unsuspecting readers with more of partisan reporting. There is a report on the forthcoming Karwan by-election [at AP] and this report reveals that " editorislising as reporting" virus is thriving in this paper. The said report bemoans the lack of enthusiasm shown by electorate in this election and then goes on to record the enthusiasm shown by electors for one candidate from Majlis. It even talks about the " tall" presence of the leader. It covers the election arena as if there is only one candidate. It does not even report/ mention the names or party affiliation of any other candidate. The press hand-out from Majlis would have been less enthusiastic for their candidate.!
This news paper with more than hundred years of history should send its reporters for training programmes to distinguish between news and views to rid itself of the virus of " editorislising as news reporting"
RV
www.hindu.com/2003/09/11/stories/2003091110510300.htm
Karwan bypoll: a quiet countdown
By J. S. Ifthekhar
HYDERABAD Sept. 10. No ringing slogans, no hype or hoopla. The Karwan Assembly constituency is shorn of the ballyhoo usually associated with election. The electorate display a surprising lack of interest -- treating the whole exercise as yet another rigmarole.
A drive through the dusty segment shows party flags fluttering atop buildings here and there and an occasional auto zipping past with cheerleaders. Yes, the principal parties are yet to get their act together. But the Majlis has kicked off its campaign soon after its candidate, Afsar Khan, filed nomination on September 4.
To the rhythmic beat of "teen mar'', the soft spoken Khan goes round the area trying to establish a personal rapport with the people. Majlis legislator, Asaduddin Owaisi, and local corporators accompany him. "The Majlis has always strived for your welfare. Give it another chance to serve you,'' he pleads with the people in Muradnagar.
Mr. Khan believes in one to one contact. He has set a scorching pace of going round the constituency for about four hours every morning. It was no different on Wednesday. He visited Muradnagar, Sabirnagar, Syed Aliguda, Devdi Peer Pasha, Mumtaz Nagar and Yadav Basti.
The tall presence of Owaisi helps a lot. He is mobbed by people wherever he goes. He introduces the party candidate and appeals to people to elect him with huge majority. It is a door- to-door campaign. Mr. Owaisi explains to people, particularly women, the importance of voting. "The election is on Friday. Try to cast your vote before namaz,'' he says.
At Sultan Galli a person wants to know whether he will be allowed to vote as he doesn't have the photo ID card. "Doesn't matter. You get your ration card and vote,'' says Mr. Owaisi.
The Majlis campaigners move into lanes and bylanes, stop at road corners and speak to people at pan shops. They recall the "good work'' done by the late Sajjad in Karwan and promise more of the same if Mr. Khan is elected. They also tell about the money given by Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi from his MP fund for developmental works in Karwan.
In Sabir Nagar women complain about the inflated power bills and water shortage. They are bitter that the loan promised by some Telugu Desam leaders has not materialised. ''Vote Majlis and everything will be taken care of,'' assures Mr. Khan.
The English Language news paper published from Chennai namely"The Hindu" has enunciated "truth telling" as one of its five major templates from its 125th year onwards.It has also decided to cleanse itself of the
"virus of editorialising as news reporting" { Editorial of 27th August 2003]. But it takes more than declarations to put into practice such major non-partisan virtues. This paper which is infected by the virus of
"partisan reporting" and " editorialising as news reporting" does it again.This time it is about the visit of Israeli PM Sharon to India. It wrote editorials to strongly criticise the invitation extended by GOI to
Sharon and that is the " privilege" of any news paper in India { compared to say China]. But the news reporting is the issue. It talks about the joint declaration regarding " expressing respective views" by both
countries and then snidely remarks that these are not known. This is by the same correspondent Amit Baruah who also wrote articles strongly critiscising the visit. "The Hindu" news paper should have separate
correspondents for news reporting" and another set for writing "opinions and articles". When both are done by same persons they get confused by the news reporting on the front page and " sermonising" in the OP -Ed page. Will this paper with more than one hundred years of history, at least attempt to follow its own declarations of " panch sheel"
India, Israel call for decisive global action against terrorism
By Amit Baruah
The Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, during an interactive
session organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi
on Wednesday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt.
NEW DELHI SEPT. 10. India and Israel have called for the establishment
of a "just and durable peace" in West Asia, a joint statement issued at
the conclusion of the visit by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel
Sharon, said this evening.
"The two sides expressed their respective views and called for a
complete cessation of violence so that a conducive environment is created for
the continuation of the dialogue," the Delhi Statement on Friendship
and Cooperation between India and Israel said, without elaborating on
what these "respective views" were.
"India and Israel share the goal of advancing peace, security and
stability in their own region and respect for democracy in the entire world,
and will continue efforts to encourage this trend," the statement said,
making it plain that the India-Israel equation was not restricted to
bilateral matters.
"As ancient cultures and societies, India and Israel have left their
mark on human civilisation and history," a point that was also made by
Mr. Sharon today. "As democratic countries since their inception, both
nations share faith in the values of freedom and democracy," it stressed.
Reporting Terrorist as Millitant -- Out of Fear or Love ?
The English language news paper published from Chennai namely The Hindu finds it difficult to cleanse itself of the virus of partisan and absurd reporting particularly when it is pertaining to J&K terrorists. Its staff reporter due to fear or love identify a terrorist thug of JeM as a militant. To top it all the staff reporter [who may need at least two years of rigorous training in reporting] states that the J&K police "claim" to have killed that militant.
What does this reporter and the editorial team at The Hindu imply by this report.? Do they mean that the terrorist a.k.a militant was not killed or he was not a " militant" or the police did not kill but the army killed him or the reporter feels that the terrorist was not linked to JeM. This news paper which has more than hundred years of history and played some role in the freedom movement cannot do the " truth telling" about terrorist thugs. The aim to cleanse itself of the virus of "editorialising as news reporting" is perhaps given a rest when it comes to reporting from J&K. The Hindu can have another editorial clearly enunciating that its earlier panch sheel template[ mentioned in the issue of 27th August 2003] is not operative in some geographical areas in India and that would be useful to ordinary readers.
RV
www.hindu.com/2003/09/18/stories/2003091807130100.htm
Top Jaish man killed
By Our Staff Reporter
Jammu Sept. 17. The Jammu and Kashmir police today claimed to have killed Nasir
Mehmood Awan alias Ansar, the deputy chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant
outfit, and busted a network of terrorist modules in the heart of Srinagar.
The killed militant was identified as a Pakistani national and said to be the
second in command of the Jaish.
Incidentally, he was killed in the same locality where a fortnight ago Gazi
Baba, the mastermind of the attack on Parliament, was located and killed.
Deafening silence of The Hindu Newspaper (Readers must know)
When Prof. R. Nagaswamy issued a rejoinder to Irfan Habib's rubbish about
archaeological work in Ayodhya, -- covering the issues of: the impossibility of
a circular muslim tomb and the Nataraja case in
London Courts -- N. Ram chose 'deafening silence' and refused topublish it. This
is a clear case of presenting a CPI-M view and not presenting the opposing
view. How can The Hindu brass claim
objectivity in reporting? Click ......... HERE
IS THE COMPLETE REJOINDER
The nation loses with such rotten eggs in the polity. Make no mistake about
it, press-people
are playing politics and should become accountable on an even playing ground of
warfare between law-makers and press-people (both not very honourable people --
ana_rya --, in the eyes of the poor villager and the child who struggles for his
or her existence, under a village tree).
Click this
http://www.oocities.org/mediawatch_india/hypocricy_of_hindu.html
The English language news paper
published from Chennai namely The Hindu does it again. This paper declared that
truth telling will be one of its panch sheel on the occasion of its 125th year
of publication. It
wrote an Editorial on the 28th August to make that interesting claim. Recently
there was a delegation of political parties from Tamil Nadu who met the PM
regarding the action contemplated by the privileges committee of the TN
legislature.
The delegation did not contain BJP members and CPM members --The Editor of
The Hindu is known for his sympathy to the later outfit. This
news paper publishes a front page story wherein
it says that sans BJP a delegation of all parties met the PM [ without
mentioning that it was sans CPM also]
Not only that, this national news paper is weak in mathematics. It
mentions that nine political parties participated in this representation and
list eight excluding BJP and CPM. On a matter pertaining to itself, if this
paper suppresses the truth ,then how one could believe that truth telling is its
motto from it's 125th year
onwards. -- RV
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/11/11/stories/2003111107510100.htm
NEW DELHI Nov. 10. The Centre will seek a report from
the Tamil Nadu Governor on the events relating to the
Assembly sentencing six senior journalists of The
Hindu and Murasoli, according to the Prime Minister's
Office.
The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, gave this
assurance to a delegation of Opposition members from
Tamil Nadu, who met him here today to express
unhappiness over the events. "Whatever the authorities
in Tamil Nadu have done cannot be justified,'' Mr.
Vajpayee said.
Mr. Vajpayee is said to have told the team that in the
Indian system of checks and balances, no wing could
arrogate to itself the right to overturn this
arrangement. He justified the Supreme Court's
intervention and expressed happiness over the
solidarity exhibited by the media.
The 57-member team of legislators from nine political
parties, barring the BJP, sought the Prime Minister's
immediate intervention to "protect the legitimate
rights and liberty, to stop the dictatorship and end
the abuse of power by the AIADMK Government in Tamil
Nadu."
The actions of the Tamil Nadu Assembly posed a direct
challenge to the freedom of the press and the
functioning of democratic institutions, they said.
The delegation stopped short of demanding the
dismissal of the State Government but said it had
cited enough reasons for invoking Article 356. "The
silence maintained by the Union Government perhaps
emboldens the Jayalalithaa regime to abuse power,''
the delegation said.
In a memorandum presented to Mr. Vajpayee, the
legislators said the sentence of 15 days simple
imprisonment imposed by the Assembly on the Editor,
the Executive Editor, the Publisher, the Chief of News
Bureau and a Special Correspondent of The Hindu for
publishing an editorial on April 25 was unprecedented
and atrocious.
"What is shocking further is that S. Selvam, editor of
Murasoli, was also punished with 15 days imprisonment
for merely publishing a translation of The Hindu
editorial."
The other allegations made against the Chief Minister,
Jayalalithaa, were the misuse of the Assembly for
political ends and of the Essential Services
Maintenance Act by chargesheeting legislators under
the Act for sympathising with the cause of striking
Government employees.
The State Government ruthlessly and mercilessly
dismissed en masse more than 1.7 lakh Government
employees without adopting a proper procedure or
conducting any inquiry, they pointed out.
The Opposition also raised the issue of arrest of the
MDMK leader, Vaiko, and the Nakkeeran Editor, R.R.
Gopal, under POTA and the arrest of the DMK leader, M.
Karunanidhi.
Describing these as "tyranny and oppression unleashed
by the AIADMK Government", the Opposition members said
that unless the Centre, which was conferred the power
to defend and protect the legitimate rights and
liberty of the people, came forward with a great sense
of responsibility and constitutional obligation, peace
and tranquillity in the State would be in peril.
`Good for democracy'
Earlier, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani,
described as "good for democracy" the stay on the
arrests of the scribes, when the delegation met him
this morning. He hoped that the Supreme Court's
directive would strengthen democracy. "As a former
journalist, I have always valued a free press and feel
sad and unhappy when the freedom of the press is
opposed," he said.
The delegation, comprising members from the DMK, the
Congress, the PMK, the CPI, the MDMK, the DPI, the CJP
and the MGR Kazhagam, was led by the Leader of the
Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, K. Anbazhagan.
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