Watching the Media

Blog at New Location

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:58:00 +0000

Dear All, Due to certain reasons; I had to move this blog to new address. I am still working to transfer all the postings here to the new address

Please visit MEDIA SHAME blog at

http://media-critics.blogspot.com/

Disgusting reporting by Indian Today

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:48:00 +0000

India Today has crossed all limits of decent and ethical reporting by claiming that RSS had a role in terror acts a accusation even CBI/NIA has not made!

NDTV upgrades Digvijay

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:09:00 +0000

Star News call Hindu Devotees performing ritual Animals!

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:48:00 +0000

Star news in its coverage Devotees performing ‘urulu seve' at the Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district has crossed every limit of decent reporting.

The report starts with Star News explaining the “strage ritual”. A literal translation is as under

In the name of belief people are rolling over half eaten food. This disgusting game is happening in famous Kukke Subramanya temple

Media Watch donot understand whats so disgusting about this ritual! Afterall its just a ritual based on belief of people.

Then Star News attempts to explain the the ritual itself

{BANG loud music} Brahmins ate at Mandir… {BANG loud music} People are rolling over half eaten food… This disgusting game in the name of ritual is happening for years at Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada. Thousands of people flock to this temple located in Dakshina Kannada to rollover half eaten food of Brahmins… its is believed that doing this would cure peoples ailments…

What was left untold is that this depends upon the belief that some brahmins believed to be vested with healing powers. And people from all castes, including Brahmins, perform the ritual the ritual of rolling over! please notice brahmins who have just performed rolling ritual in screengrab under

Now comes the most disgusting part of the coverage. It seems that as part of the ritual people eat food without utensils.

Let us now show you another example of blind faith. During this ritual some people instead of eating in plates but eat from floor. Look at the people mired in superstition is eating food from floor like like animals…This ritual is based on belief that doing so will help them to fulfill wished.

Calling Hindu devotees “animals” for taking part in innocent ritual however weird it may look is NOT acceptable. Media Watch calls upon readers to register their protest with Star News.

Then the start news reporters goes on to ridicule the explanation given by the temple priest on background of this ritual

This fellow explain the ritual of rolling over halfeaten food as faith…

People who come to join this ritual are predominantly Backward caste!

These pictures are proof that inspite of all; claims of progress by our society are still bond by bad rituals .. people who are rolling on half eaten food are breaking the Indian dream of reaching moon

The reporter again continues with his lies that the ritual is predominantly done by backward caste when the above screen grab above clearly indicates otherwise. and lastly, If one were to believe this reporter it seems this ritual stands in between India going to moon.

It is decision of Media on what they should be covering but maintaining a minimum decency and respect in the language they use while dealing with faith of people is minimum we would expect from the media. Also, I wonder if Starnews has every covered Bakri Id festival when lakhs of animals are slaughtered on rituals based on belief!

Video

Starnews coverage

Blast from Past: Star News' BJP phobia

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 06:49:00 +0000

A news published in Rediff gives a interesting insight to Media games even in early days

Rediff Reports

The Rupert Murdoch-owned Star News is determined to push its anti-BJP agenda at any cost.
The Vajpayee government, though fully aware of the negative slant of the channel, is unable to counter it effectively since Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan is not above doing business withR athikant Basu, the channel's boss in India.
Last Saturday, Star in its prime time bulletin implied that the BJP might be involved in the murder of Indian Express correspondent Shivani. The bulletin said 'Shivani, a member of the investigative cell of the Indian Express,, had done a lot of stories against the CBI and the BJP.'
The truth is that in her all-too-brief career she hardly did a story against the BJP. So livid was Mahajan at seeing Star News that he immediately called Basu. Caught on the wrong foot, Basu in turn ordered the Prannoy Roy-owned news- making company to delete the offensive sentence. In all subsequent bulletins that night the BJP was not dragged into what was a case of murder.

So if one were to believe Rediff, the antiBJP tilt is in the DNA of NDTV

Screenshots

Now Economic Times blames Sangh Parivar for rise of IM

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:18:00 +0000

This entry to Media Hall of SHAME pertains to todays Economic Times article Indian Mujahideen, a poison fruit of saffron politics, jehadi mindset which lays blame of rise of IM squarely on Sangh Parivar!

The article claims

The other factor is the saffron brotherhood's sustained role in fostering anger among Muslims by its longstanding anti-minority philosophy, which led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and the Gujarat riots 10 years later.

So the author seems to be indicating that Gujarat riots were result of ‘longstanding Anti-Minority’ stand of Sangh Parivar. While the fact remains that Gujarat riot was a emotional reaction of a section of general popular shocked by Godhra train carnage! Also, 2002 was not first time a riot took place in gujarat. In September 1969, Gujarat plunged into one of the severest riots after Partition. Official figure counted 660 dead and 1,100 injured. The magnitude of riots could be gauged by the figure that 6000 families lost their houses, properties and belongings. The Sampradayikta Virodhi Committee's report "Gujarat's riot X-rayed" mentioned the figure of dead people as 3000

Also 2002 is not first time a riot took place in India. here is a list of all the riots which took place in last 175 years

Arguably, if the RSS and its political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had not been so persistent in their venomous anti-minority propaganda, the only form of terrorism which India would have had to face was the one sponsored by Pakistan. In that event, the Lashkar-e-Taiba would have been the main terrorist outfit endangering India.

It is shocking to see Economic times effort to delink IM and Lashkar-e-Taiba , a position very similar to pakistans stand. It is even more shocking considering the fact that the GOI & investigative agencies have clearly said that Local members of IM has been trained by militants based in Pakistan, including the Lashkar-e-Taibat and he main players of Indian Mujahideen are based in Pakistan running the game from there.

The same rejection of religious sectarianism in favour of development helped Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar rout his rivals in the recent elections in the state and emerge as a front-runner for leadership of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) because of his secular credentials.

Now this is one claim which can be be kicked out of window straight away. It is surprising to see Economic times calling NDA BJP led in Bihar while the fact is in Bihar NDA is JD (U ) led while BJP has always been the junior partner. Having said that the performance of the BJP in the Bihar Assembly elections was no less than dramatic with phenomenal strike rate - winning 91 out of the 102 seats it had contested. If tis is considered rejection of BJP then we are not sure what the acceptance is!!

Then Economic times go on to quote several paragraphs which allegedly appeared in The Organiser, mouthpiece of RSS

To quote from an article in the RSS journal Organiser, "the temple-favouring verdict ... will never be acceptable to the Jilanis, Ansaris, Bukharis, Shahabuddins, who along with Babar's descendants will sooner or later reveal their true colours".

To quote from Organiser again: "We shall engage ourselves in the godly mission of freeing the entire country...the entire Ramjanmabhoomi, the entire Mother India from the clutches of every shade of traitor"

A websearch of Organiser Website reveals that no such passages ever were published in organiser and the above is just a figment of Economic Times Imagination! Screenshots attached below

The misuse of religion for political purposes has been the bane of Indian politics. It led to the partition of 1947 because the Muslim League's poor performance in the 1937 elections convinced it that it could make no headway without concocting the slogan of "Islam in danger" in a Hindu India. Similarly, the BJP's reduction to a party with only two Lok Sabha seats in 1984 made it turn to the RSS-VHP line of "freeing" Mother India from the Jilanis, Ansaris and their co-religionists. The militancy of the IM and SIMI has been the result.

To finish the article Economic Times try to link the partition of India and BJP electoral reverses!! Economic times seems to be forgetting that BJP itself was formed in 1980 s a result of the split in the Janata Party on the issue of some of its members' membership of the RSS!

After reading this article Media Watch is convinced that Dijvijay Singh talking about Karkares death, Rahul Gandhi equating RSS with SIMI and cases against RSS activists and leaders is a not events in random. These are well thought events in an overall strategy to pander to Muslims' fears.

Screenshots

Meet Amaresh Misra, The secular reporter

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 16:50:00 +0000

Some of the information in this blog is times as it was written a year back immediately after 2611 in one of other blogs. This is being republished here as the subject is even relevant today as a result of claims by congress leader Digvijay Singh

As nation grappled to formulate a credible response to 26/11 a section of society has started its usual ranting.

Immediately after 2611, Amaresh Misra who claims to be a freelance writer, historian and poet writes in counter current a rabid left website in India claiming that Mumbai Terror Attack was handiwork of Anglo-American-Mossad-RSS Nexus! Incredibly, he also says

Somehow surprising to learn that the terrorists in Cama hospital in Mumbai were fluently speaking Marathi.

He also claims that

The attackers would not have come from the sea route without some kind of a connivance of Gujarat and Maharashtra Governments with the terrorists, and the connivance of RSS type Hindutva elements as I will prove later in the piece.

His ranting post 2611 is not an aberration, now immediately after Varanasi blast, he has released a statement wich indicated Varanasi blast as a handiwork of Mayawai Govt.. He in a statement released to the media on Saturday claimed

"Why did it occur at a time when Mayawati government is in the dock for Rs 2 lakh crore foodgrain scam in which the CM is being held personally responsible for smuggling grain meant for the poor. Was the Varansi blast meant to divert attention from the foodgrain scam?" he asked. Incidentally, the period of the scam being probed right now is 2004-07 when the Mulayam government was in the power in UP.

He also raised questions on credibility of security agencies

"It is known that Indian Mujahideen was a fake entity created by communal anti-national vested interests in the Indian security agencies and most boys from Azamgarh may have been framed. Given the scenario isn't it strange that the ATS under Mayawati, instead of giving relief to Azamgarh boys, is hell-bent on naming them in the Varanasi blast?

Now you would be wondering who this Amaresh mishra is? Is he really a Indian? Well hold your breath... He is the poster boy of Secular press in India. According to reports, He has also been handpicked by Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh to head the party’s Anti-Communal Front. He accompanied Digvijay on his controversial trip to Azamgarh, and he also accompanied Digvijay Singh to meet P Chidambaram and Sonia Gandhi to discuss Naxalism and the Batla House encounter in Delhi.

He is a regular writer in Outlook

He regularly writes editorial in The Hindu

He even contributes in Indian Express

If all this is not enough, he also manages to get himself photographed with Vice President Hamid Ansari

Screenshot

“Its dressed up”

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:34:00 +0000

As per the latest tape released by Outlook

Radia calls up Vir Sanghvi on June 20, 2009, the day before his Counterpoint column appears in HT. Following is transcript of the conversation

Nira: Hi

Vir Sanghavi: Hi… Nira…

Nira: Ya Ya

“Vir Sanghavi: Wrote it…“I’ve dressed it up as a piece about how public will not stand for resources being cornered, how we’re creating a new list of oligarchs…” See the Examples I have given is the court case which says that Mummy will decide its all in family… Why should our gas be decided by mummy… I have given the example of they deal that was struck on Sasun after samajwadi party supported the government and they went back on deal ..

Nira: Hmmm…

“Vir Sanghavi: ……and they went back to their old position…. I have given the example of how spectrum is being allocated

Nira: Hmmm…

Vir Sanghavi: and I has said that while people have certain tolerance to corruption in this country.. they have no tolerance for people cornering their assets and cornering our scarce resources and what will happen is this country will become a country run by oligarchs like Russia who no body can control and Manmohan Singh must act as he basically giving away the future of the country

Niira Radia: Very nice, lovely, thank you, Vir.

Sanghvi : It’s dressed up as a plea to Manmohan Singh, so it won’t look like an inter-Ambani battle except to people in the know.”

Nira: very Nice

Sanghvi : ok…

Please note that this conversation was recorded at 1620 Hrs and Vir Sanghavi published his said counter point article at 2129 Hrs.

After the first tape, Vir Sanghvi had published his defense in an article Setting the record straight. In his defence he says

My view is that to figure out what is actually going on behind the scenes, a journalist sometimes has to appear sympathetic and even, to string along his sources so that they reveal their ultimate motivation. (Why are they really talking to you? What kind of article do they want?).

Dear Vir, Do you also classify above conversation as “a journalist sometimes has to appear sympathetic and even, to string along his sources” . To us in Media Watch it looked like a student reading back a prose to teacher who has dictated it and looking happy that she has approved it.

In another tape Nira asks her associate to prepare the questions for Vir (Sanghvi) of HT since he has agreed to ask whatever questions they suggest. She says that Vir is starting a new series of interviews and he wants to start with Mukesh Ambani or Ratan Tata. She asks Yatish to mobilise all resources to draw up the questions.

Please also read “What kind of story do you want?”

In 1998; CBI had filed FIR against Prannoy Roy

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:27:00 +0000

It seems that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a case of criminal conspiracy against New Delhi Television (NDTV) managing director Prannoy Roy in 1998.

The background to the case seems to be long war between Star's CEO and the Government which began July 1996, even before Basu joined Rupert Murdoch's channel.

Indian Express in an article CBI case against Prannoy Roy dated 20 January 1998 reports

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a case of criminal conspiracy against New Delhi Television (NDTV) managing director Prannoy Roy, former Director General of Doordarshan and present Chief Executive Officer of Star TV R Basu and five other top officials of Doordarshan.

The First Information Report (FIR) filed on the basis of “source information'' says that the undue favour granted to Prannoy Roy had led to a loss of approximately Rs five crore to Doordarshan. The FIR names Ashok Mansukhani, the then Deputy Director General (DDG) of Doordarshan, Harish Awasthi (DDG), Shiv Sharma, the then Director General (DG), S Kapoor, the then DG, S Krishnan, the then DG, Prannoy Roy, Managing Director NDTV and the television network too
According to the CBI charge-sheet, DD suffered a loss of over Rs 3.52 crore due to the ``undue favours'' shown to NDTV as its programme The World This Week (TWTW) was put in `A' category instead of `special A' category.

Outlook in its article Star Crossed writes

In the case of NDTV, CBI records show that Doordarshan gave the producers access—free of cost—to vis-News footage that was received by the Doordarshan Kendra at Bombay. The CBI dossier also shows that Roy was given microwave and satellite uplinking facilities without being levied the correct charges.
The CBI dragnet has also swept over other Doordarshan officials like Bimla Bhalla. Records in the possession of the CBI show that, apart from the favours shown in the case of The World This Week, Basu had also made similar concessions towards Roy in programmes like News Tonight and South Asia News Capsule. Records summoned by the CBI in the latter show that the rate at which payment was to be made to NDTV for this capsule was not settled when Doordarshan began broadcasting the programme.
The confusion arose when the costing committee arrived at a fig-ure of Rs 50,000 per episode and NDTV claimed a payment of Rs 1.76 crore at the rate of Rs 81,000 per episode. In a letter to Doordarshan, NDTV stated that this had been agreed upon by the then OSD (news) Bimla Bhalla. The dispute over the payment has, however, not been settled till now.

Bimla Bhalla , Former additional secretary, cabinet secretariat (RAW), joined Star as executive director in January 1997

NDTV did declare this in their prospectus released early 2004. The prospectus declares

The Company and its promoters have also been named in an First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in January 1998 against certain DD officials in relation to certain violations of rules by DD officials pertaining to certain programmes produced by the Company for telecast by DD. Till date, no case has been instituted against the Company based on the investigation carried out pursuant to the FIR.

Nothing much is known about current status of this issue

Screenshots

Digvijay Singh must first remember who called who?

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 08:22:00 +0000

This entry is not a strict Media Hall of SHAME but since it is a important subject and since this is happening in press, we have decided to publish here to keep records

Indian Express in their headline news Two hours before 26/11 attacks, Hemant Karkare called me to say his life under threat: Digvijay Singh reports

Speaking to The Indian Express today, Digvijay Singh said: “On November 26, 2008, at 7 pm, just about two hours before the attacks in Mumbai started, Hemant Karkare, the slain ATS chief rang me on my mobile and told me how his family and his life were blighted by constant threats from people annoyed by his investigations into the Malegaon blasts.

While in a video published by Starnews Digvijay Singh Says (translated from Hindi)

He was depressed.. I called him He didn’t call me … I called him and he said

Wonder how can Digvijay Singh forget details of such an important call when he remembers even words Mr. Karkare spoke!!

Screenshot and Video

Digvijays says he called Karkare

Digvijay Says Karkare called him

New Radia Tapes nails Barkha Dutt

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:59:00 +0000

This entry to Media Hall of Shame should be read in continuation to be read Reply to Barkhas clarification in Radia Tapes

In her clarification on Radia Tapes published in NDTV website under Barkha Dutt on the Allegations Against Her. She has put following in BOLD ALL CAPS

AT NO STAGE WAS I EVER ASKED TO PASS ON ANY MESSAGE TO INTERCEDE ON BEHALF OF A PARTICULAR MINISTER OR PORTFOLIO. NOT ONCE, WAS I ASKED TO "LOBBY" FOR A. RAJA. NOT ONCE WAS I ASKED TO CARRY ANY MESSAGE REGARDING HIM OR ANY OTHER APPOINTMENT.

Now the new Radiia tapes released by Outlook seems to have nailed this claim. In the Radiia tapes, Radiaa was heard telling a gentleman who seems to be Shankkar Aiyyar

"Congress ne to statement Thank God issue kar diya. Barkha ne karwaa liyaa us se. Ki it's not about individuals." "Haan woh to maine dekh liya. aa gya na Manish Tewari ka".

English Translation of the above.

Congress has Thankgod has issued an statement. Barkha got it done saying its not about individuals …. Yes I have seen Manish Tiwaris statement

So its amply clear that Barkha did speak to someone fairly high in congress so high that she managed to get Manish Tiwari to make a statement

Wonder how Barkha will now justify this?

You can hear the audio here 25-188819-0-17-20090522-091706

Screenshots & relevant congress statement at that time

Is NDTV trying to blindside Nation?

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:45:00 +0000

This entry to Media Hall of SHAME is NDTV take on latest material in Wikileaks which discussed how congress will indulge in caste/religious-based politics taking reference to AR Antulays statement post 2611

NDTV published the Wikileaks matter in toto in their article WikiLeaks: Congress party stung playing religious politics . They also highlighted a section which I guess they believed was most important section of the release. They highlighted

The entire episode demonstrates that the Congress Party will readily stoop to the old caste/religious-based politics if it feels it is in its interest.

However, they chose to ignore a far more damaging section which read

While the killing of three high level law enforcement officers during the Mumbai attacks is a remarkable coincidence, the Congress Party's initial reaction to Antulay's outrageous comments was correct. But as support seemed to swell among Muslims for Antulay's unsubstantiated claims, crass political opportunism swayed the thinking of some Congress Party leaders. What's more, the party made the cynical political calculation to lend credence to the conspiracy even after its recent emboldening state elections victories. The party chose to pander to Muslims' fears, providing impetus for those in the Muslim community who will continue to play up the conspiracy theory.

It is interesting considering the fact that Guardian in their article US embassy cables: Mumbai conspiracy allegations 'outrageous' – US ambassador

The news published by NDTV WikiLeaks: Congress can stoop to old caste politics, says ex-US Ambassador to India on this regard also only give a miss to more damning section but also missed mentioning congress playing religious politics when entire wikileak was focused on how congress played muslim card on AR Antulays statement.

Screenshots

NDTV News

How NDTV Highlighted

How Guardian Highlighted

Media seems to have wrong Priorities

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:43:00 +0000

It seems Media in India has totally different priorities.

Whole country knows Parliament is standstill for last 21 days. Reason: Opposition wants an JPC enquiry into Massive 2G Scam and Congress instead of relenting, is trying to dilute the demand.

If you are a parent, you would normally be worried on effect of such massive corruption on moral values of an innocent child. But it seems Media instead is worried on what would a child think when he sees protest against corruption will have!

NDTV in their News Students watch unruly MPs in Parliament report how

how Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan today appealed to Opposition members to restore order in the House which witnessed uproar over the 2G spectrum issue for 21 days.

Saying

"School children are watching you".

Hindustan Times in their Article Students bemused by unruly MPs in RS also takes a same. line

If given an option what would media expect the child to see. A opposition blind and mute towards such a massive corruption?

Please read the news to see the dramatization by media

Screenshots

IBN should walk the talk

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:48:00 +0000

On December Sagarika Ghose, Deputy Editor of IBN CNN and wife of Rajdeep Sardesai, editor in chief IBN network tweets.

On December 10, Rajdeep Sardesai, editor in chief IBN network tweets.

Reminds me of phrase: Woh Kare to Atyachar… Hum kare to Chamatkar…rough translation (When they do it its outrageous, but when we do it it’s a noble act)

NDTV CEO gives reply, Guardian responds

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:50:00 +0000

The Sunday Guardian sent nine questions to NDTV in the interest of fair journalism, ranging from the "buyback" deal, tax avoidance, full and transparent declaration of financial accounts in India, and overseas operations. These are the questions:

1. At a time when NDTV is publicising NDTV Networks PLC as a subsidiary of NDTV, why isn't it attaching the accounts of this subsidiary or of its other foreign subsidiaries with its accounts?

2. Specifically, why were the accounts of NDTV's subsidiary companies not attached with NDTV's balance sheet/annual report of 2006-07?

3. The company applied to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 24 May 2007 for exemption in relation to nine subsidiaries, including overseas subsidiaries. The balance sheet was signed on 22 May 2007. So exemption was not available to NDTV on the date of signing the annual report/balance sheet on 22 May 2007. Isn't this a punishable offence?

4. If the foreign companies are admittedly subsidiaries of NDTV why are the names of the shareholders, directors and the shares held by each and the remuneration paid to directors/employees not being disclosed to regulatory authorities in India?

5. Specifically, why hasn't NDTV made public any information about NDTV BV, about its directors, the source of its finances, etc? Or about the sources of the money raised by NDTV Network Plc?

6. According to the annual report of the NDTV group for 2008-09, NDTV Network Plc invested over Rs 400 cr in its subsidiaries: Rs 383.43 cr in NDTV Imagine, Rs 14.64 cr in NDTV Convergence and Rs 29 cr in NDTV Lifestyle. Why is nothing known about how this money was raised?

7. Are stakes being sold and repurchased to boost the share price of NDTV? Please refer to the buyback in October 2009 of the 26% shares held by NBCU in NDTV Plc.

8. What is the tax treatment meted out to repeated acquisition and alienation of assets of foreign subsidiaries? Do repeated foreign transactions have RBI and regulatory approvals?

9. Shouldn't NDTV be questioned by the authorities for the amount of tax evaded on offshore transactions and the service tax evaded on consultancy activities of companies listed abroad? Aren't these companies a conduit for funds-flow to the Indian company?

NDTV Group CEO and Executive Director K.V.L. Narayan Rao sent a reply, along with the threat of "criminal defamation", in response to these questions. His letter:

Your fax of 3rd December 2010, is riddled with innuendos and false accusations. While we have answered all your questions, we reserve the rights under civil and criminal law both against your publication and against any individuals in your organisation.

We repeat that your fax is based on false information and is clearly motivated to defame NDTV. The fact that you refuse to meet us and discuss the issues face to face despite repeated requests, is in itself an indication of this attitude. We still ask that you meet us and discuss the entire matter and hold onto any publication till then.

If despite our response, you decide to carry a story on this, we would insist that our entire response be carried with the same prominence, headline and abutting the article. Further, we would ask that you share a copy of the full article with us before it is published so that we can counter any allegations and innuendos that are not part of your questionnaire.

In all our corporate actions in our company (ies) during the period in question we have been advised by KPMG, PwC, Luthra & Luthra and Sanjay Dutt of Quantum Securities.

Set out below are our responses to your questions in their order:

1. NDTV Limited has been exempted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs from attaching the accounts of its subsidiaries with its balance sheet. A statement of accounts of its subsidiaries is, however, attached with the annual report. More importantly, NDTV Limited as a matter of policy (stated very clearly in its annual reports) allows any investor who would like to see detailed financial statements of the subsidiaries to either demand them from NDTV or to inspect them at its registered office. Lastly, the detailed financial statements of the overseas subsidiaries are also available as per the respective laws of their jurisdictions. For example, the financial statements of NDTV Networks plc are easily available on the website of Company House, UK.

2. The accounts of NDTV's subsidiaries were not attached to the 2006-2007 balance sheet/annual report of NDTV Limited because NDTV Limited was not required to do so, on account of the aforesaid exemption.

3. The government has exempted NDTV from attaching the financial statements of its subsidiaries with its annual report for each of the financial years since 2006-2007. The government grants this exemption for specific years and the date when the balance sheet is signed by the directors is totally irrelevant. What is relevant is the date on which the annual report is sent to the shareholders. In NDTV's case, the annual report was sent to the shareholders only after receipt of the central government's approval. The irrelevance of the date on which the balance sheet is signed is further demonstrated by the fact that the government granted this exemption for the financial year 2006-2007 even though the application was made after the signing of the balance sheet/ annual report. This is exactly as required by law.

In any event, we do not understand why a routine exemption, which all large companies generally seek and receive, is considered noteworthy by you. Please consider the following

The accounts of NDTV Limited are compiled and disclosed on a consolidated basis. Therefore all relevant information relating to its subsidiaries is anyway contained in NDTV Limited's own financial statements.

This exemption is sought and received by all large corporate groups (including Infosys, Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel, Aditya Birla Nuvo, TVS Motors Co Ltd and Tata Motors) simply because attaching the balance sheet, P&L, Directors Report and other statements for each subsidiary makes the annual report of the parent company extremely unwieldy.

4. It is absurd to suggest that the names of NDTV Limited's subsidiaries or other information have been suppressed. Their names, NDTV's shareholding (direct or indirect) in them, names of directors who have received any remuneration from any subsidiary and the remuneration paid to NDTV's directors by any subsidiary are all disclosed in NDTV's annual reports to the fullest extent required by law.

5. All information about NDTV BV and NDTV Networks plc, which NDTV is required to disclose under Indian law, has been duly disclosed. Its relationship to NDTV, sources of funds, NDTV's shareholding in it and its key financials are all disclosed in the annual reports of NDTV.

6. You have asked us why nothing is known about the manner in which funds have been raised for infusion into its subsidiaries. This information is so widely known and so easily accessible that the only reason why it is not known to you can be that your researchers have not done their jobs well.

The following were the ways in which funds were raised for the non-news businesses carried out by these subsidiaries. Each of the following were widely publicised, were duly disclosed to the stock exchanges and have been explained in meticulous detail in the annual reports of NDTV.

In 2007, USD 20 million were raised by issuing preference shares to private equity investors.

In 2007, USD 100 million were raised by the issuance of convertible bonds.

In 2008, USD 150 million were raised by issuing shares to NBCU group companies.

These funds were infused into companies like NDTV Imagine, NDTV Lifestyle and NDTV Convergence, among others, from time to time, as required under their approved business plans. Prior permission of all relevant regulatory authorities including the FIPB, Ministry of I and B, RBI and others as required, was obtained before such funding.

7. Your seventh question, and the manner in which it has been framed, raises serious doubts about the integrity of your intentions. Typically, we would not have dignified such questions (which are really accusations and not genuine inquiries) with a response. However, we are inclined to extend you the benefit of doubt.

Firstly, there was never any stake sale in the NBCU transaction. In May 2008, NBCU subscribed to fresh shares of an NDTV subsidiary. These shares were purchased by a subsidiary of NDTV. Therefore, there was never any instance of sale and repurchase. Both these transactions were consummated at an arm's length and were fully disclosed. There is no question of having done anything to "boost" the value of NDTV's shares although shareholder interests are always protected within the framework of the law.

8. NDTV's overseas subsidiaries are complying with all tax compliance requirements. Whenever any approval was required from any regulatory authority it has been sought and received. In fact, the overseas investments were themselves made only after obtaining an FIPB approval.

9. We are shocked at the suggestion that NDTV has evaded tax. As mentioned previously, NDTV's overseas subsidiaries are complying with all tax compliance requirements. All applicable laws have been duly complied. Therefore, it is preposterous to say that the overseas operations are a "conduit for funds flow into India."

We place on record that NDTV will vigorously prosecute its rights under civil and criminal law – both against your publication and against any individuals in your organization who may be involved with any act of defamation against NDTV. Specifically, we intend to file cases of criminal defamation and pursue these to their conclusion against any individual or organization that makes insinuations of wrong-doing without stating concrete facts clearly and accurately.

Regards,

K V L Narayan Rao,

Group CEO & Executive Director, NDTV.

The Sunday Guardian found these replies to be inadequate at best, particularly since they chose to ignore the truly culpable elements of the story. This is our response to their clarification.

Companies can be exempted from filing accounts of subsidiaries, but such exemption must be applied for prior to approval of the balance sheet. In this case the balance sheet was signed on 22 May 2007 and application for exemption was made on 24 May 2007.

1: Details of profit and loss of one overseas, indirect subsidiary, NDTV Networks PLC, show huge losses in the last two years: were these losses reported in India along with NDTV's balance sheet? Such data would have impacted the NDTV share price in India. This P&L, obtained by The Sunday Guardian from UK government records, is published alongside in a box. Accounts of the principal subsidiary, NDTV Networks BV, are published in Dutch since it is based out of Netherlands, which is all the more reason that there should be clarity in English and published along with NDTV accounts in India.

2&3: This is largely a repetition of the first answer. There is nothing in law called retrospective exemption. They should in fact have been penalised by Company Affairs.

4&5: NDTV has chosen a clever route to prevent full dissemination and disclosure of detailed accounts of its foreign subsidiaries and their financial dealings by making them subsidiaries of a subsidiary. An "indirect subsidiary" is not recognized by law in India and has to be treated as a normal subsidiary. Therefore all accounts of the NDTV BV as well as its subsidiaries in London should have been published along with NDTV's balance sheet. Clearly the exemption was also sought because NDTV had something to hide.

6: NDTV's answer only substantiates our investigation: NDTV and its indirect subsidiaries have been on a fund-raising binge but the resultant losses are not being bridged. Secondly, their borrowings are being guaranteed by NDTV, as our investigation proves by quoting NDTV itself. Did NDTV obtain RBI and Ministry of Finance approval for such corporate guarantees of at least Rs 400 crores? Could this corporate guarantee result in contingent liability in the NDTV balance sheet in India at a time when NDTV was making huge losses?

7: While we will not respond to gratuitous and snide allusions, which show little maturity, we are happy to believe that NDTV has confirmed what was said in regard to the sale and purchase of shares by NDTV PLC of its subsidiaries [note, specific admission in second paragraph of their response] albeit you have chosen slightly different language in your confirmation.

8: We would request Mr Rao to read the investigation, in which we have pointed out several areas which deserve immediate investigation by the relevant and competent government agency for violations of fiscal and regulatory laws.

9: Share sales and purchases abroad through indirect subsidiaries would have invited tax liability on any share premium. For instance, NDTV Imagine sold a share with a face value of Rs 10 at Rs 776.

NDTV juggles funds, shares abroad, avoids tax

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:49:00 +0000

News Published on The Sunday Guardian

NDTV, through its foreign subsidiaries, is suspected to be indulging in gross violations of Indian tax and corporate laws. NDTV Network Plc, UK was set up in November 2006. Its balance sheets were not filed in India. This company has raised and invested huge sums of money in its subsidiaries, NDTV Imagine (now sold), NDTV Lifestyle, NDTV Labs, NDTV Convergence and NGEN Media Services. The main activity of the company seems to be that of buying shares, as detailed later. Even now, most of the deals being struck by NDTV are being transacted through this UK subsidiary, with no money seemingly coming to India by way of tax.

NDTV India group raised funds worth Rs 804.6 cr between April 2008 and September 2009 out of a total of about Rs 982.2 cr through foreign sources, primarily through its subsidiaries in UK and Netherlands.

NDTV Network Plc is registered in the UK, and its address — Seventh Floor, 90 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6XX — is an "accommodation address". The address also has Olswang Solicitors in the same premises. Olswang Cosec Ltd is Plc's company secretary and represents many other companies. CoSec stands for company secretary. Companies like Olswang Holdings, Olswang LLP and others operate from the same address. Plc does not have any employee.

But while the names of the directors of the UK subsidiary are available on UK's Companies House website and statements about its balance sheets, it is difficult to obtain information on the largest shareholder, NDTV BV as it is in Dutch. The only thing known about BV is that it is a subsidiary of NDTV India.

The accounts of these subsidiary companies were not attached with NDTV's balance sheet/annual report of 2006-07. It claimed exemption which was not available to it on the date of signing the annual report. This is required by Section 212(8) of the Companies Act 1956. The balance sheet was signed on 22 May 2007, and the company made an application to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 24 May 2007 for exemption in relation to nine subsidiaries, including overseas subsidiaries. So NDTV presumed it would get the exemption on the date of signing of accounts, at a time when it had not even applied to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The exemption was granted on 8 June 2007. The MCA overlooked the lapse. The Registrar of Companies too failed to penalise the NDTV for this offence.

To trace the financial jugglery involved in the whole process light must be shed on how these companies have been operating. In 2006-07, New Delhi Television Limited set up a legal entity in the Netherlands under the name NDTV BV, which in turn set up the NDTV Network Plc in the UK. The Indian company invested around Rs 57.45 lakh in the shares of NDTV Networks BV, thus making it its 100% subsidiary. NDTV BV, in turn, set up Plc as an indirect subsidiary.

NDTV Networks BV invested Rs 43.58 lakh in the shares of NDTV Network Plc UK, thereby making NDTV Network Plc UK a subsidiary of NDTV Networks BV, Netherlands, which, in turn, is wholly owned by the Indian company. Thus the Indian company is also the owner of the fellow subsidiary, i.e. the UK company through channel holding and NDTV admits NDTV Network Plc as an indirect subsidiary.

In 2007, NDTV promoted and set up as its subsidiaries five companies in India: NDTV Imagine, NDTV Lifestyle, NDTV Labs, NDTV Convergence and NGEN Media Services. Eventually these were made subsidiaries of the UK company. Of these five, NGEN is a 50:50 joint venture with Genpack.

NDTV also owns NDTV News Ltd, Value Labs and Astro All Asia Networks Plc, Malaysia.

In 2006-7, the Indian company also raised for working capital term loans to the tune of Rs 175 million. Stock options (ESOP) were also given to employees at concessional valuation when compared to the valuations made for raising capital overseas in the UK company from undisclosed sources. But, as mentioned earlier, NDTV's balance sheet/annual report of 2006-07 did not attach the accounts of these subsidiary companies. Was this done to avoid exposure in India of the financial jugglery in the accounts of the subsidiary companies, namely NDTV Network Plc UK and NDTV Networks BV, Netherlands?

According to the financial statements of the year ending 31 March 2008, "Shareholders agreement dated 23 May 2008 was entered into by NDTV, along with its subsidiaries NDTV BV, NDTV Networks BV, NDTV Networks International Holdings BV and NDTV Networks Plc with NBC Universal Inc and one of its affiliates Universal Studios International BV ('NBCU'), to divest to the NBCU affiliate a 26% effective indirect stake (on a fully diluted basis) in the Company through NDTV Networks International Holdings BV (a Netherlands based subsidiary of NDTV Networks BV) The said stake is divested at a price of US$ 150 million The agreement also contemplates that NBCU will be granted an option to acquire an additional effective indirect stake of upto 24% in the Company through NDTV Networks International Holdings BV in the third year of the joint venture at the then fair market value of the shares, subject to receipt of all necessary consents and approvals"

NDTV India further borrowed a substantial amount of money to fund its fixed assets in India.

The UK subsidiary also raised $100 million by issuing convertible bonds through private placements. NDTV's annual report of 2007-08, under the category of "contingent liabilities not provided in respect of" section, Page 67, says, "During the year, NDTV Network Plc (NNPLC) has raised funds by issuing $100 million convertible bonds due 2012. In connection with this, the company has given an undertaking to provide a corporate guarantee for and on behalf of NNPLC, as and when required. The estimated potential dilution on conversion will be between 20% to 30%." The entities to whom the private placement was made is not known.

In October 2009, NDTV announced a buyback of the 26% shares held by NBCU. In December 2009, New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) informed the BSE that the company had entered into a conditional agreement with Turner Asia Pacific Ventures, Inc. (TAPV) for the sale of most of its indirect stakes in NDTV Imagine Ltd (Imagine), which was held through its indirect subsidiary NDTV Networks Plc, UK. The total transaction size is $117 million and involves a sale of 76% of NDTV Imagine for a consideration of $67 million, together with the subscription of fresh shares in Imagine by TAPV for $50 million. Prior to the issuance of primary shares to TAPV, NDTV Networks Plc will retain a stake of 5% in Imagine. The transaction is subject to receipt of an approval from the board of Time Warner Inc (the parent of TAPV), and from regulatory authorities.

NDTV Network Plc, according to the annual report of the NDTV group for 2008-09, has invested a little over Rs 400 cr in its subsidiaries: Rs 383.43 cr in NDTV Imagine, Rs 14.64 cr in NDTV Convergence and Rs 29 cr in NDTV Lifestyle. The parties involved in these investments are not known. Moreover, on at least two occasions in 2009, the UK subsidiary, which holds a major stake in NDTV Imagine, bought shares of NDTV Imagine at astonishing valuations, as given below.

According to Form 2 filed by the company for Return on Allotment, on 7 July 2009, Plc bought 13,64,208 equity shares of NDTV Imagine at a price of Rs 776 per share (face value of Rs 10, premium of Rs 766) and raised Rs 105.98 cr. There is no information available in the public sphere on how these valuations were arrived at and whether a foreign agency was involved in valuing the shares of NDTV Imagine at such high prices. Interestingly, on the same day, the market value of NDTV shares was Rs 126 per share on the Bombay Stock Exchange. This means that the shares were bought by the British subsidiary at more than six times the value of the parent company shares. Similarly, Form 2 filed for Return on Allotment on 3 December shows that the British subsidiary once again bought 920,632 shares of NDTV Imagine at Rs 788 a share, when the market value of NDTV shares were Rs 139. The total amount raised including premium was Rs 72.57 cr.

Mention must also be made of a November 2010 report that says US based Scripps Networks is acquiring 69% stakes in NDTV Lifestyle for $55 million. NDTV Lifestyle is held by NDTV Network Plc, UK. Take another November 2010 report, which says, shares of NDTV shot up by over 7% after the company announced that NDTV Networks Plc, has repurchased the $100 million coupon bonds due 2012.

Is wealth being created and retained abroad without any benefit to NDTV shareholders?

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NDTV-ICICI loan chicanery saved Roys

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:44:00 +0000

News published in the Sunday Guardian

NDTV Limited and associate companies in which Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy have a majority stake have indulged in financial misdemeanours and malpractices in connivance with ICICI Bank, and raised funds by misdeclaration of the value of shares in NDTV. These shares were held by a company called RRPR Holding Private Limited. The deal took place between July and October 2008 during a "buyback" of shares from the stock market announced by NDTV Limited at the price of Rs 439 per share.

Share prices were in a period of boom at the time, and the company expected prices to rise even further. This is why it wanted to buy the shares back. Since the company did not have sufficient liquid funds to finance this purchase of shares, it took a loan from India Bulls Financial Services of Rs 363 crores, pledging 90,70,297 NDTV shares. This was in July 2008.

In August 2008, the stock market collapsed on the back of the subprime crisis in USA; the index crashed from about 22,000 to below 10,000. The price of NDTV shares went down from a high of Rs 394 to around Rs 100.

The collateral of the India Bulls loan, therefore, depreciated, compelling India Bulls to recall the loan. NDTV did not have the money to do so. They approached ICICI Bank to lend them money. ICICI gave a loan of Rs 375 crores in October 2008 against the collateral of 47,41,721 shares held by RRPR, at an average price of Rs 439, representing a gross value of Rs 208 cr.

This was the first financial malfeasance, since the worth of the collateral was far less than the amount given. This was further compounded by what can only be described as financial chicanery, since the price of the shares given as collateral was not Rs 439 but was actually Rs 99 in the market, as of 23 October 2008. The gross value of the collateral was only Rs 46.94 crores, or one-eighth of the loan given. ICICI, a publicly traded company in which the government and its institutions have a substantial stake, therefore accepted a lie purveyed by Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy, the only two shareholders in RRPR. It is also important to note that RRPR did not own a single NDTV share before July 2008, authorised and subscribed capital of a mere Rs 1 lakh.

Shockingly, just days after the disbursal of the monies, one of the directors of RRPR Holding [there were only two directors, the husband-wife team of Roys], was granted an interest-free loan of Rs 73.91 crores from the funds that had suddenly come into this inert company through the ICICI loan. The ICICI loan was an open violation of the SARFAESI Act of 2002.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, who received the necessary intimations of all transactions, gave implicit acquiescence of the transaction by choosing to remain silent. RBI, which had also received this information, also kept quiet.

To put this malfeasance in context, last month CBI arrested eight senior managers of LIC and other banks for a loan scam amounting to Rs 2000 crores in multiple transactions. NDTV has been a frequent borrower abroad, and also selling stakes in subsidiaries abroad and repurchasing these shares through various interested parties at prices that have no relationship to actual market values. For instance, NDTV Imagine [now sold] shares representing a face value of Rs 10, were sold at Rs 776. The benefit of such high premium obtained by these shares has not reached the Indian investors in the company. NDTV shares, on the other hand, are slipping even further, and losses rising. Its business overseas is through subsidiaries, which conduct financial dealings through accommodation addresses; one is 90 High Holborn, London.

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Why is TOI mixing Army with religion?

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:32:00 +0000

This entry to Media Hall of SHAME is shocking news item Muslim general to defend LoC in Times of India.

There was a time when India never associated our defence forces with religion. They were our Jawans defending the nation. But of late it seems media has broken this last taboo also.

Time of India reports

He replaces Lt Gen N C Marwah. Hasnain is only the second Muslim officer to command 15 Corps, a crucial shield against Pakistan's offensive intent.

As if this is not enough Time of India also reports

The last Muslim officer to have commanded the 15 Corps was Lt Gen M K Zaki.

It is shocking to read TOI making it sound it so dramatic as if Indian Army donot promote Muslim Officers!!

If you cant defend.. Deflect

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:21:00 +0000

It seems the Radia Tapes has split Indian journalists right in middle. A group probably representing older generation is now advocating much needed radical corrective actions to bring repute back to once noble profession and prevent it becoming synonymous to worlds oldest profession. But surprisingly as this older generation tries to cleanse the system another influential section of Journalists, the armchair types who you mostly find in TV chat(they call it discussion programs) have closed ranks.

Media Watch sees Swapan Dasguptas Times of India column Time to fight the cancer, not join the lynch mob in this context.

Knowingly or unknowingly, It seems that Swapan has completely missed the core issue surrounding the Radiia Tapes. In his naiveness, Swapan tries to explain the outrage as an misplaced anger of “lynch mob” “against India`s entire wealth-generation process” who according to him has shown “gritty determination to overcome a difficult, if not hostile, business environment”

Media Watch is surprised that Swapan who is a regular in twitter has missed the most trending topic in recent times. It didnot read #Ambanigate or #Ratangate but it was #BarkhaGate and #MediaMafia which was trending as number 1 topic in India. So the anger is not against the wealth generation process of business houses. It is not even against Radiia who most of us believe was just doing her job(rather efficiently). The popular anger is directed against a prominent group of media ‘celebrities’ who have overstepped their brief by miles and played fiddle to current day neros of India i.e corrupt politicians. Yes sir…. the anger is against Wealth Generation activities but not of business houses but of Media houses. In short, the anger is against corrupt Media the fourth pillar of our democracy.

Lastly, Media Watch is taken back by the audacity of Swapan to call ordinary man rising in anger against deep rooted malice as Lynch Mob. It gets more painful considering the fact it is written in an article where he himself praises how commonman of India rose against the tyranny of British Rule. Perhaps if Swapan could move from dance floor (proximity to politics, business and the media) to the balcony, he will realize that there are no Lynch Mob here. He will find here a motley crowd of engineers, businessmen , housewife, student who want nothing but a better and just India. But then it donot surprise us as Swapan was among the first to use the term ‘Internet Hindu’ perhaps he just upgraded the much maligned Internet Hindus to Lynch Crowd.

I am not a doctor but common sense tells me that sometimes its best and safest treatment for malignant tumor is amputation.

Is Modi is cheating by being more efficient?

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:10:00 +0000

This entry in Media Hall of Shame is regarding a shocking news report in Indian Express.

IE today in an article Modi accused of starting auto 'rat race' reports how Modi is stealing car projects from other states!

Surprisingly, the first example IE mentioned was how Tatas moved Singur Nano project Gujarat. According to IE,

It shocked the entire nation in general and India Inc in particular.

In the same breath the report also mentions in brackets

had just been booted out of Singur by Mamata Banerji-stirred controversy

Media watch is not sure what IE expected Tatas to do? Did they expect Tatas to shelve the project instead of moving to Gujarat. In an interview with Economic times this is what Ratan Tata had to say

we have been receiving letters from various state governments ever since we faced problems (at Singur). Land was the main issue. It was a kind of insurance (at the time). But there was a tremendous urgency once we made the statement on 22 August that we would move if things didn't improve as we had already lost a lot of time. We started to respond sometime in September to the offer from the states. We started running around looking at the land. The same people had to look at the land on offer (to make a proper comparison). The Gujarat chief minister moved really fast, and yesterday, we took the decision. In other states there were processes to be gone through or things which the legislative assembly had to do which may or may not happen despite the best intention of the chief minister of the state. Gujarat enjoys the reputation of being an investment-friendly state. So we decided late on Monday evening that we may as well go with Gujarat as everything was in place.

So if we believe Rata Tata, several State govts approached Tata for the Nano project. Narendra Modi won the project because he was more efficient! Is being efficient a negative trait? It is shocking the a national newspaper of IE stature instead of supporting good governance is running a campaign against it!

After Nano projects, IE cites example of Ford India and Hyundai who according to IE is planning to shift their expansion projects to Gujarat.

And, in this case at least, that has not gone down well with other states, in particular Tamil Nadu, which had played host to these foreign companies in the first place. In fact, the attitude is one of being 'cheated'.
Accusing the Gujarat government of starting a "rat race" by luring industries from other states, a Congress MP from Tamil Nadu today sought Centre's intervention in stalling the reported moves of Ford India and Hyundai to go out of the state for expansion projects.

It is surprising to see IE using language such as “In fact, the attitude is one of being 'cheated'.” What is the basis to substantiate this claim? Has IE done any survey to claim this or is it purely based on statement of one congress MP K S Alagiri?

However, IE failed to mention that both Ford and Hyundai have specific reason for evaluating their options outside Tamil Nadu.

According to reports; Hyundai Motor India has two manufacturing plants in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu and Hyundai is not averse to setting up its third facility in Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh,despite the challenge of labour issues but according to Hyundai having a plant in Gujarat will give the company better access to northern and western India. Additionally, proximity to ports will enhance exports. Now is IE expecting companies to sacrifice their business interests on the altars of secularism?

Ford is having second thoughts on the same owing to the growing labour union problems in Tamil Nadu. In Gujarat, companies are not mandated to recognise labour unions. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, is mulling over enacting a law that requires companies to have a registered and recognised labour union as Maharashtra and West Bengal do.

On the issue of Labour disputes, IE shamelessly quotes congress MP K S Alagiri

Barring a few stray incidents, the industrial relations in the state have been satisfactory and there have been no strikes or lockouts in major industries in the state for the last several years, he said.

While the fact is All is not well on the industrial labour front in Tamil Nadu, with simmering discontent among workers in multinational companies leading to strikes and shutdowns. Labour problems at Hyundai Motor India flare up at regular intervals. The newly-formed workers union at Ford Motor India has written to the state government to intervene on its behalf. In 2006 TN saw 51 strikes and lockouts which went up to 66 in 2007, 86 in 2008 and then came down to 49 in 2009 due to which 2.10 lakh mandays were lost.

Lastly, there is a several power shortage in TamilNadu,. Tamil Nadu's power requirement is estimated at 7,177 MUs against an availability of 6,521 MUs leaving a shortage of 656 MUs. While Gujarat is a power surplus state. We are selling about 600 MW of power to other states

It is shocking and disgusting IE is playing into the hands of “secular” politicians and is taking positions which would be detrimental for overall wellbeing for the country.

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Good News about Modi travels slow

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:15:00 +0000

One of biggest news which kept media excited was Post Godhra riots in Gujarat. Newsmedia tookup this issue with a passion never seen before even though India has seen much worse riots before. In fact, Post Godhra riots reporting became a cottage industry in itself. Livelihood of several NGO’s and reporters depended on this issue.

So one would naturally expect Media to get all excited and report when a major news on Modi and Godhra appears.

This morning TOI broke the news SIT clears Narendra Modi of wilfully allowing post-Godhra riots Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Dec 3, 2010, 12.47am IST

During the course of the day, Some others also broke the news.

India Today, SIT clears Gujarat CM Narendra Modi of wilfully allowing post-Godhra riots December 3, 2010 | Updated 09:38 IST

IBN: Clean chit to Modi in Guj riot cases: sources Posted on Dec 03, 2010 at 14:36

But even after 8 Hours several major Media houses like NDTV or Indian express are yet to even mention this news in their website. I guess when it comes to Modi Good news (depending upon whom you ask) travels slow.

Indian Express should use caution using terms loosely

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:31:00 +0000

Indian Express in their report Rapist tantrik fleeced girls’ family of Rs 1 crore: police write

Mehdi Kasim Shaikh, the tantrik arrested for raping six teenagers, allegedly fleeced their family of Rs 1 crore over a period of time and stashed it in a flat he had rented in Kalyan. The discovery came after the police raided the flat.

According to Dictionary, Tantrik is Adjective of Tantra which mean

Any of a comparatively recent class of Hindu or Buddhist religious literature written in Sanskrit and concerned with powerful ritual acts of body, speech, and mind.

So a tantrik is a practitioner of the Hindu tantra systems of beliefs.

In that case, How can Mehdi Kasim Shaik a muslim be a tantrik? IE’s use of term creates unnecessary confusion and Media Watch hopes that IE will be more cautious

HT says Priyanka Inspiring winter wardrobe

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:26:00 +0000

In an news article Priyanka Gandhi: Look of the season HT analyses the fashion sense of priyanka gandhi!

The best para, I liked was

City youngsters, too, are giving a thumbs-up to this look, which is already inspiring their winter wardrobe.

Disgusting is the word which comes to mind! SHAME HT

Secular reporting at its best

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 04:02:00 +0000

This entry to Media Hall of Shame is a news report pertaining to tussle between locals of Hiregutti village in Uttara Kannada district and National Highway authorities. To widen NH-17 into a four-lane highway, the National Highway authorities are attempting to shift the temple, much to the opposition of locals.

Times of India reports in Sangh opposes eviction of Brahma temple

The eviction of a religious place which has "encroached upon public property" has kicked up dust at Hiregutti village in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district.

The Hindu reports Locals threaten authorities against shifting temple

The clearance of places of worship built illegally on public property has kicked up a row in Hiregutti village of Kumta taluk in Uttara Kannada district.

How can one oppose widening of NH for an inconsequential temple build “illegally on Public property”

Now lets consider some other facts tucked in later parts of the news.

It seems the temple was established during the Kadamba dynasty. Whats was left unsaid was Kadamba dynasty was founded by in 345 CE and was prominent till 525 CE. Yes you heard it right the said inconsequential temple is centuries old! Just to put things in perspective Charminar the most famous mosque and monument in Hyderabad which also stands in middle of road was build in 1591 a full 1000 year later.

Now we at Media Watch have few questions to reporter and Media houses who published this news

1. How can a temple build in the time period 345 CE - 525 CE be considered to be “illegally on Public property” considering the fact modern India itself was established in 1947!

2. If Charminar which came up a century later can remain on the road why cant Highway authorities find a way to extend the road without destroying the temple! Shoudnt a centuries old temple be considered national heritage

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CNN-IBN not cooperating in graft probe: Jharkhand

noreply@blogger.com (Panchajanya) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 16:33:00 +0000

The Jharkhand vigilance bureau Thursday said the news channel CNN-IBN was not cooperating in the probe into the cash-for-vote scandal of July.

IBN owe an explanation to the nation why they are not cooperating with agencies to bring culprits to book?

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