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Narendra Modi on the Role of NDTV during the 2002 Riots
Author(s) : Madhu Purnima Kishwar

Thus far people have heard what media stalwarts have to say about Narendra Modi. Now hear what Modi has to say about some of the famous media persons’ coverage of the 2002 riots in Gujarat: To quote Modi:

(Click for Video: NDTV Role in Adding Fuel to the Fire During 2002 Riots). 

It was my endeavour that we restore peace at the earliest possible. If you look at the data you will see that in 72 hours we had put down the riots and brought the situation under control. But these TV channels kept on playing up the same incidents over and over again. At the time, Rajdeep and Barkha were in the same channel NDTV. During those inflamed days, Barkha acted in the most irresponsible manner. Surat had not witnessed any communal killings, barring a few small incidents of clashes. However the bazaars were closed [as a precautionary measure]. Barkha stood amidst closed shops screaming “This is Surat’s diamond market, but there is not a single police man here.”

I phoned Barkha and said, “Are you providing the address of this “unprotected” bazaar to the rioting mobs? Are you inviting them to come and create trouble there by announcing that there is no police here so you can run amok safely?”

In a second incident in Anjar, she played up the news that a Hanuman mandir had been broken and vandalized. I told her, “What are you up to? You are in Kutch which is a border district. There you are showing the attack and destruction of a mandir. Do you realize the implications of broadcasting such news? We haven’t yet recovered from the earthquake. Have you actually done proper investigation into the riots? Why are you lighting fires for us? Your news takes a few minutes to broadcast that such and such place is unprotected or a mandir has been vandalized. But it takes for me a few hours to move the police from one disturbed location to another since these incidents are breaking out in the most unexpected places.”

What is worse, when I got the matter enquired into by the local police, we found out that it was a small, insignificant structure under a tree which had been damaged a little bit by some crazy individual. But NDTV presented it as an attack on a Hanuman mandir. When the fires were raging these journalists were pouring fuel on those fires.
 

On that day I had put a ban on TV channels because they were actually provoking trouble.  But it was only for one day.


Since Rajdeep Sardesai was among the leading reporters covering the disturbances, I phoned him to say, “I will have to put a temporary ban on your channel if you continue with the provocative coverage. There is a well-established regulation that media should not name communities during communal riots nor identify a damaged placed as a mandir or masjid. Why are you violating that code and well set protocol about not naming communities or identifying places, of worship? You are going against established norms.”

How Modi Reached the Point of No Return with NDTV?

Modi told me the last straw for him with regard to NDTV was when one of their correspondents Vijay Trivedi, accompanied him in a helicopter for an interview. When he started asking the same old insulting questions, Modi simply kept quiet and refused to respond any further. Piqued at being ignored, Trivedi spread the canard that Modi nearly threw him out of the helicopter mid-air because he had asked “tough questions”. Modi says on that day he decided never to give legitimacy to NDTV by giving them an interview or responding to any questions from them. Vijay Trivedi treats this incident as a badge of honour and has boasted about it on numerous occasions--in writing.

 

.........

This translation from Hindi is not verbatim but I have tried to be as close to the meaning of the Hindi oroginal as possible. For a more detailed account of media's role during the 2002 riots read' "Modi, Muslims and Media".

.........

 

Posted on April 8, 2014  

Comments (12) We welcome your comments
 
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If true, how shameful on part of brakha dutt and ndtv, they have a lot to answer for..
Posted By adi On Date: 08 Apr 2014
It is unbelievable. But why only NDTV, the entire media must have been aware of the truth of this story. why did none of them told the truth to the people. If what is written is true, it is a conspiracy and both Barkha and rajdeep should be charged for instigating hatred and voilence I would go to the extent of saying that they and all other politicians who are knowingly spreading lies in domestic and international media are responsible for a criminal misconduct equivalent almost to treason. Incidentally I was watching TV that day on the the day bogey was burnt. The way they were trying to downplay the arson and killing of karsevaks was humiliating and I commented to no one in particular that they will cause a riot by talking like that.
Posted By sushil On Date: 08 Apr 2014
It is unbelievable. But why only NDTV, the entire media must have been aware of the truth of this story. why did none of them told the truth to the people. If what is written is true, it is a conspiracy and both Barkha and rajdeep should be charged for instigating hatred and voilence I would go to the extent of saying that they and all other politicians who are knowingly spreading lies in domestic and international media are responsible for a criminal misconduct equivalent almost to treason. Incidentally I was watching TV that day on the the day bogey was burnt. The way they were trying to downplay the arson and killing of karsevaks was humiliating and I commented to no one in particular that they will cause a riot by talking like that.
Posted By sushil On Date: 08 Apr 2014
Sharm se doob maro NDTV, Burkha, and Pimpdeep and other channels.
Posted By Gopal On Date: 08 Apr 2014
Burkha Dutt and Rajdeep need the same treatment given to Tejpal.
Posted By Arun Murthy On Date: 08 Apr 2014
In future nations will be destroyed not from outsider enemy forces and guns but local convert will be used to destroy their own nation. In india hindus are being converted to islam and christian to destroy own race and country. New war game perfected by ISlam saudi arebia.
Posted By sahani On Date: 08 Apr 2014
It is disgusting to see how irresponsible Barkha and Rajdeep had been in the last few years.I have no doubt that these people were responsible for instigating Gujarat riots of 2002.Their role should be probed along with the role of Barkha in Radia tape.Srinivasan Jain also played an important role in dividing Hindus and Muslims during the Muzafarnagar riots with his reports.Hope some probe is ordered and no other journalist does such dirty things in future.NDTV and CNN IBN has been a big letdown with such editor in chief.But thankful to Barkha and Rajdeep as their disgraceful reporting has inspired many to become a fan of Narendra Modiji and to know him better through social media.
Posted By Sanjeev Mohan On Date: 08 Apr 2014
When Modi becomes PM I earnestly urge him to check NDTV n CNN-IBN finances, equity holders thoroughly! Do what Cong did to Sahara to these guys. If you dig enough you will find stuff! None of them are saints. These guys are doing harm to the nation.
Posted By Krish On Date: 08 Apr 2014
Dear Madhu
It is so terrible that this hatred for Modi still continues in NDTV and IBN.They simply cannot stomach his rise

Media watch dog cant take action on them.
The canards they spread has created a divisive society

They never simply held Gogoi or Akhilesh responsible for the riots in their states in the same vein or intensity

So in a sense these media houses coverage or reports are not balanced and never impartial.

Such shameful anti one person behaviour continues even now in the bias about RSS involvement or not condemning Azam khan but attacking Amit Shah
Lastly this huge disregard for the courts or its representatives which have exonerated Modi & BJP and no balanced coverage on the role of NGO's and other mischievous malicious people like Teesta etc
Posted By Nikhil On Date: 08 Apr 2014
That is very true, I still remember that Rajdeep howling " Musalmano ki bheer aur hinduon ki bheer etc."Such idiots still out in the open.
Posted By ajit On Date: 09 Apr 2014
harming the nations resources and is nothing new to Barkha during Kargil War courage our Soldier has lost his Priceless life safeguarding this cheap Barkha Dutt
Posted By dev On Date: 26 Apr 2014
during 26\\11 ndtv was live para droping of soulderes thus putting their life and life of hostages in danger.
Posted By rpmisra On Date: 27 Apr 2014

 
 
 
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