Irresponsible medium:Shame on me to be an audience
THIS POST CONTAINS MY EXTREME PERSONAL VIEWS OF THE EVENTS UNFOLDING ON NEWS CHANNELS IN INDIA.The terrorist have already done the damage and the siege is over.The other group of people who have silently created panic and anxiety is the Indian media.They have no sense of responsibilty whatsoever.They are so opinionated and so naive.Everyday we witness birth of news channels..all set to out do each other.I believe that any form media is the reflection of the society.But the frenzied media I saw for the past three days is a reflection of an uncouth voyeuristic arm chair critic society of which I am a part of..and I am ashamed of it.
Last wednesday and the subsequent days have confirmed the belief that Indian media can go to any length in order to get maximum eyeballs.Even the channels who used to used to restrained,lost it all in the melee. It is cheap.It is in your face.It is juvenile.It is not trustworthy.Let me go channel by channel and express my views about them and their reporting.I am no expert.I will give the lesser known channels a miss.
HINDI NEWS CHANNELS:
I will start first with..
1) INDIA T.V.: It has already been served notice by the IandB ministry yesterday for broadcasting interviews of apparent millitants hold up at Chabad House (Nariman House)…remember there were many Indian channels reffering to Chabad House as Chabra House on the first day.IandB ministry had already issued instruction to media houses not to telecast pictures ofthe ongoing operations.But all in vain.During the end phases of Chabad house operation India T.V. stopped telecasting live pictures claiming to be responsible.The damage was already done by then.Operations was already over..what was the point showing restrain now.The voice of the India TV female anchor is still resonating in my head..I am under trauma.This channel should have been banned when they telecated “'„lien Interview” long back.It is the best channel if you feel like satiating your primal voyeuristic urges anytime.
2)AAJ TAK: It was a big hit five years back when they started guerilla reporting and “in your face” reporting.The novelty factor made them the “Sarva shresth” channel.Personally now I feel that they should be pushed to the level of Live India and India T.V. Aaj Tak comes up with the worst digital recreation of events.It just makes you cringe at the substandard info passed on.Arun Poorie..you doing a bad job..as if it matters.
3)NDTV INDIA and Zee News: Stictly no comments because of non availabilty of this channel.It is one of the few restrained Hindi channels though.Based earlier viewing.
4)The Extras: Sahara Samay..Live India..News 24..etcetera..they are all the same channels..take off their channel logo and you will understand what I am trying to put across…sensationalism is the name of the game.
ALL THESE CHANNELS BARRING A FEW HAVE THE REPORTERS WITH SAME REPORTING STYLE AND TONE.THEY SCREECH AT THE TOP OF THEIR VOICES AS IF THEY HAVE BOMBS PLANTED BELOW THEIR SORRY ASSES.
Coming to the English Channels: I had been following these channels 80 percent of the time.But 20 percent Hindi channel viewing has caused me all the trauma..seems like Pareto principle.
Let me start of with…
1) CNN IBN: Rajdeep Sardesai is at the helm of CNN IBN affairs after parting ways with Prannoy Roy.It has good presenters Anubha Bhonsale and Suhasini Haider amongst them.However I felt that in this madness and frenzy..CNN IBN lost its objectivity too but not to an abysmal level like its counterparts.Their correspondent Toral Varia was all over South Mubai on Day 1 before Rajdeep Sardesai himself to over the mantle.CNN IBN also had reporters like Raksha Shetty and George Koshy.Overall restrained and only passed on confirmed news even when it made them break news a bit later compared to others.
2) NDTV 24×7 :One of the few first independent English News channels..and has been schooling good journos for a long time.One of the best I feel is Srinivasan Jain.That guy I feel is the next Prannoy Roy..very restrained..to the point and clean.He knows what he speaks and not verbose.
. Personally I do not like Barkha Dutt and I belive she has a strong Christiane Amanpour (sp?) hangover. Very loud as an anchor..overshadows the event with her voice and reporting.She does not let anyone else speak even when she asks questions..she answers them herself…her way.
3) Headlines Today: Its the “Aaj Tak” of english channels..as it belongs to Arun Poorie’s India Today group.Very irritating anchors..esp Zacha Jacobs (sp?) and Gaurav Sawant.Gaurav Sawant and another co anchor (cannot remember his name..ealier used to work with Aaj Tak) report in english but have Hindi modulated reporting tone.Very unusual as compared to other english reporters.
4)Times Now: Arnab Goswami..NDTV product..broke away and started off along with CNN IBN..when there was a spurt of English channels.I think Arnab Goswami (I think he has this Larry King hangover with his head slightly down) should do us all a favour and leave news anchoring..most of the time he cannot frame sentences..looking for words to fill in approriately..if he cant do impromptu reporting he should take the help of the teleprompter more often than carrying out such suicidal stunts.Very cynical and has this self righteous and “matter of fact” tone as if he is out to make this society into Utopia.He is not even bothered of repeatedly harping on the point that “Time Now broke this news first”..who the hell cares who broke the news.It news and not some property which you own.
5)9 X news: Very self restrained to the point channel.Extremely BBC-esque channel..good reporting..I loved the Narendra Modi inerview they had broadcasted..though Modi was the victor at the end unlike the Karan Thapar interview.I am not touting this channel..but these guys are good with Shirin (first seen with Newstrack) and ex-NDTV Arup Ghosh (hope the name is correct).
BBC World: They were focussed with news that the ultras were targeting American and British nationals intially but then covered it entirely..they received feed from NDTV at times.
CNN: They were surprisingly covering it round the clock with feed from their “sister network” CNN-IBN..Covered more compared to BBC.However CNN Delhi correspondent Sara Sidner looked quite uncomfortable in the Taj setting.She had a puzzled look throughout.May be it was for this.(Source:PFC Author Mainak).Nic Robertson was much better off.
There are many other news channels in this business…the standard I believe is bordering on mediocrity.Hope things improve and they become slightly mature.Pardon me if I have made any errors while mentioning names and facts.Felt like speaking and expression with passion against some of the news channel.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
i seriously cant believe the people could drop to such a level of mediocrity …Sara Sidner incident is truly shocking….while carnage was going all these people cud think was to cop a cheap thrill..fucking disgusting man
Seriously..it was not reported in the indian media.Strange.
I saw the incident live. It was so embarassing.
I depended almost entirely on NDTV, and sometimes CNN-IBN, easily the two best news channels. I’ve stopped watching hindi news channels way back.
And Times Now is rubbish. Glad someone pointed out the soberness of 9x. They’re good.
yeah doremi..in this day and age to find such a sober channel like 9 X news is puzzling..they can be the change people are looking at.
I was impressed with CNN-IBN when they apologized on Friday that they reported a false report about fresh firing on CST.
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That is what journalism stands for. Admitting that you are wrong but never being less committed.
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All said and done, I still admire all the field reporters and journalist. For most, this may be a first time so their inexperience showed.
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Yup, all Hindi News channel are better off showing comedy circus and tele-shopping network and astrology stuff. Idiots.
The funniest was when the reporters ducked to save themselves..they even dramatised the ducking scene..lying and repoerting..it was hillarious..one can always push back and pan the camera..lol
Sourav,
Its their moment of glory :-) Let them relish it the way they want.
Also, if you remember in Saving Private Ryan, one of the soldiers feels lucky the first time and takes off his helmet only to be shot in the head.
Its OK to dramatized for reporters, I think.
hahaa..they would have been fuckin shot..they were more of a menace than of any help.Bunch of kids I say.
indian media or so called news channels english or hindi are absolute rubbish they hav made a mockery of the crisis . like pounding on the poor hostages or speculating absolute rubbish didnt even let the nsg or commando do they there job. all they wanted to know if these guys were pakistanis or no. i just hope that the media community makes some reforms and increase the standard of our news channels.and my condolences to all the families, soilders who ve lost there lives and i hope the media doesnt make a mockery of these guys
Arnab Goswami is a total retard. He was speaking about structural damage to Taj Hotel, due to the fighting. I doubt if he even understands what structural damage means.
And for God’s sake, i hope the media now does not go into a “Spirit of Mumbai” overdrive. Last thing we need is another media circus.
well akshat..i can totally understand what you feel.
@Ratnakar: your fears have come true..they are on spirit overdrive already
Finally the news channels have got time to air the their ads.
Guess who is on CNN IBN..Shobha De who talks of leadership and where the buck stop..she a few days back spoke in favour of Raj Thackeray.Condradictions contradictions…I am sick of this
Oh I missed Star News..
CNN-BN and NDTV are easily the best ones…as pointed out in the article all hindi channels maybe not NDTV India are rubbish…how bout the regional channels???nebody followin them…IBN Lokmat a Marathi news channel is fairly OK…
Have not seen any reginal channels but they do not seen to go over board like the hindi channels.
I have been watching NDTV and IBNLive only. My biggest peeve was since all these guys were talking about how the politicians can’t unite in this hour.. etc how useless they are.. etc… these media guys could not unite to share news or even work together so that they do not harass the hostages that were freed or be orderly enough to take a press conference professionally or be observant enough to not ask the same question again and again..
I mean there was such a big open place away from the Taj they could have worked together to set up a small press conference podium to help the guys who wanted to give the update to the media and not run behind each and everyone or fight with the other reporter/cameraman/woman for space… and let us hear..Eyy hato,, kya kar rahe ho.. jageh do…
This was one i heard which was totally sick…
humarey paas 2 khabar hai app logo ko sunaney key liye ek Acchi khabar aur ek buri khabar …
buri khabar ye hai ki mumbai ki humlo main marney walo ki sankhya 100 tak hai … aur acchi khabr ye hai ki Cricket match Cancel nahi huva …
totally disgusting and sick of them ……
@sarang: very valid points..these guys are very to crucify people without any evidence..so judgemental esp the pedestrian channels…
Sourav thanks for writing the article. I have been displeased with Indian Cable News Networks for a long time now, and this time with their behavior during the past few days by airing Terrorist calls and putting commandos in harm by telecasting their operation, they have crossed a boundary they should not have. And again with the displaying of the dead bodies on camera and humiliating questions to the survivors and trivializing the situation by focusing on the Taj burning rather that the attack itself. Not just this time but even over the years since their inception, I am not sure what pleasure they get by showing gory bloody images of TV, I am not sure why the restraint of civility that rest of the world media applies to themselves in time of crisis, Indian media does not. What is the purpose of adding a snazzy high bass music to tragic events ? How much is the viewing public responsible for this ?
@Kiran..let me share what India T.V. had to say..” MARCOS ke patnee ko bhi pata nahee hota ki uska patee ek MARCOS hai—-Ayaa OSAMA ka baaap MARCOS.
@Machismo: I can trully feel what you feeling like.Thats precisely the reason I wanted wrte this piece…I have written it so impromptu that have made a milllion typos..but its ok..i dont even intend to edit…even if one of these guys read it whom the article is meant for,i have done my bit.
AND WHERE DID THESE NEWS CHANNELS GET THE NOVEL IDEA OF INCLUDING BACKGROUND MUSIC IN THEIR BULLETIN…I MEAN ITS APPALLING…DRAMATIZING EVERY ASPECT…reminds me of Mumbai Meri Jaan
@ 16, Kiran,
What the fuck was that! Is that what we have all become – a number. A human life is just a another statistics.
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Does the enormity of a tragedy depend on how many suffered?
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Saalo ne ghar mein ghuskar ka vaar kiya hain, Every single death is a horror. And this fucking news-sucking whores are doing a mathematical masturbation out of it.
Completely second your opinion Rohan..but I cant imagine who this channel is on air..some political clout I believe..ban them before they get lynched live on T.V.
Wow… those were quite engaging conversations. It also means we in the USA get the shittiest of news channels via Dish Network – Headlines Today, Aaj Tak and Sahara Samay. These three seem to be running profitable news channels at bhelpuri costs.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1862650,00.html
If there is any Award for the most WTF article, it should be given to this. Seems to be written by some Guy, who gets his knowledge of India from Hollywood movies.
Here are some Gems
1) Kashmir, a Muslim-dominated state whose fate had been left undecided in the chaos that led up to partition, remains a suppurating wound in India’s Muslim psyche. As the cause of three wars between India and Pakistan — one of which nearly went nuclear in 1999 — Kashmir has become a symbol of profound injustice to Indian Muslims, who believe that their government cares little for Kashmir’s claim of independence — which is based upon a 1948 U.N. resolution promising a plebiscite to determine the Kashmiri people’s future.
2) The 2006 terrorist attacks on the Mumbai commuter-rail system that killed 183 people were also blamed on SIMI as well as the pro-Kashmir Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Those incidents exposed the all-too-common Hindu belief that Muslims aren’t really Indian.
3) “We [Muslims] were the legal rulers of India, and in 1857 the British took that away from us,” says Tarik Jan, a gentle-mannered scholar at Islamabad’s Institute of Policy Studies. “In 1947 they should have given that back to the Muslims.” Jan is no militant, but he pines for the golden era of the Mughal period in the 1700s and has a fervent desire to see India, Pakistan and Bangladesh reunited under Islamic rule.
@Oz: Fortunately or unfortunately you are missing out on a lot of things on the news channels
@Ratnakar: Thanks for that link..I never came across an article as inane as this..this is world order changing article.The simple basis of the article which is the INdia TV conversation itself is flawed at all levels.
@Ratnakar and Saurav
With due respect to you both, I dont feel that the article is silly.
Most Kashmiri do feel that they are cheated in Kashmir. If that was not the case why would they demand and fight for Kashmir. In fact in a recent article in Times of India, popular columnist Swaminathan Aiyer, urged government to fulfill its promise and hold plebiscite in Kashmir
Some of the Indian feel that Muslims are not Indians(but not as common as maybe the author has said)
Some Muslims do feel that the first right to India after 1947 was theirs. This is not a joke. Really some Muslims genuinely feel like that. Infact the author has given an example of some scholar at a Islamabad University.
In fact the history the author has given is correct. From where I read history( a book by RC Majumdar), the author gave a detailed account of why Muslim backed universities started in India. He gave a reason similar to the one given in the article.
Infact there are many things author have written which are serious and not frequently said
“That sense of injustice is at the root of Muslim identity today. It has permeated every aspect of society and forms the basis of rising Islamic radicalism on the subcontinent.”
“But jihad, as it is described in the Koran, does not end merely with political gain. It ends in a perfect Islamic state.”(I dont know if this is correct but afghanistan is a shining example. Most people will end up quoting as jihad is inner struggle)
@manoj: According to the Time article,the pakistan scholar talked about the fact that India should have been returned to Muslim rulers.700-800 years ago India never existed..there were petty states..and we did have mughal rulers in delhi..bt that would not have led to the same necessarily post independence.Kashmir is the only state with majority muslim population..but ironically pre-independence it had a minority hindu ruler hari singh..but again post independence we have had muslim CMs in J&K…
Gr8 analysis Sourav..at this hour of crisis, wen the entire nation is resonating strong emotions against terrorism, all that these news channels are bothered about is who reports the news first and who gets max TRPs!!
And to achieve that, they will stoop down to abysmal levels and how!! We saw Rajdeep Sardesai literally pulling out a taj survivor (by his arm) from some other channel’s coverage; just to ask him the same old questions..creating a mockery of his own channel..i dint understand whether the hostages were safer inside taj or outside with d news-hounds..
Another incident of cnn-ibn comes to my mind, where the female reporter desperately tried to steal the limelight during an analysis, and dint let her colleague finish a sentence even..
Dunno what kind of news channels we are dealing with..is news reporting only restricted to fulfilling personal agendas? Somebody please tell them that they will not make it to the guiness book for reporting the news first or talking the most..
http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081208&fname=Bombay+Blast+32-39(F)&sid=11
Totally idiotic ranting from Rahul Bose. No i was no big fan of his acting skills, and always felt he was one helluva overrated actor. But i felt he was one of the more sensible persons in Bollywood. But the casual way he has taken the Mumbai attacks is just shocking.
http://outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20081208&fname=Bombay+Blast+32-39(F)&sid=11
I think the link is not working
Anyway here is the text of what he said
But what do last night’s events signify to the ordinary Bombayite? Psychologically, a lot, considering how the images have been playing out on TV for the last 24 hours. But practically, much less. After all, we’ve lived with the knowledge of unbridled, random acts of terror for at least five years now. And it has been far more traumatic to have been part of the blasts by an unseen electronic remote control hand than here, when you have real, live terrorists: you can see the enemy—hear him, at least—and you know, sooner or later, he’s going to be shot dead or apprehended.
Besides, this is terror targeted at the very rich and non-Indians. I mean, how many Indians go to Leopold’s? But when you had bomb blasts on trains, that was traumatic because you had the common man, already caught in inflation and corruption, now faced with terrorism on the streets. Wednesday’s events aren’t going to affect him in the same way: how many ordinary people actually walk into a five-star hotel?
At this point every single TV channel is asking: what can the ordinary person do? What can Bombay learn from this? What can the State do? Personally, I feel, nothing. Let’s face it: random acts of terror in a city of 90 million are bound to steal through the cracks, no matter what.
But there is something we can do: be extremely vigilant that these random acts of terror are not used by the government to bolt the stable after the horses have fled. Draconian laws, curbs on mobile phones, get home by 9 pm, sandbagging on roads, traffic reduced from a crawl to a halt—all this is unacceptable, and as a common citizen I will fight it till my last breath. Already we have stood patiently in line at airports, outside cricket stadia, and elsewhere. It has amounted to nothing. Some 25-30 young men have waltzed in with AK-47s and grenades, and had a blast. It is idiotic to believe that these security measures inconvenienced the terrorists. Of course they don’t. As common Bombayites, we can focus on how we’re going to live instead of when we’re going to die.
IMO Ratnakar…Rahul Bose is one overrated actor..first thing first..secondly he seems to have all the opinions on everything possible..the news channel call him and ask him for his views..and that guy has all the opinions.Jack of all master of none
I don’t know what is an effective way to get news media to curb their malignant behavior. Online petition’s are useless, if there is any other effective way anyone can think of please post it here.
THERE WILL BE A DAY WHEN SUPREME COURTS AND MEDIA WILL RUN PARALLEL GOVERNMENTS…THAT DAY IS SURE TO COME IF WE HEAD LIKE THIS…
Initially machismo if you remember during the murder of that girl in noida..the meia thought of having a self controlling committee but thats all ball talks..nobody is doing that..i think the I and B ministry so get down to something to curbs these guys..some sort of an overseer..but in a democratic country..i do not see it happening..as media is considered the champion of the peoples causes…
Well also the media does it, because there is an audience for it. During the crisis the best coverage came from 9x and Doordarshan, but how many people watched them.
People want to watch India TV or AajTak, with loud music, and sensational headlines like “Sheher main Kauff”, “Mumbai Collapses”, or NDTV doing an in your face “Lets cheer baby” kind.
It was just so sick showing Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s mother breaking down at her son’s Body, and in the background you had that “Maa” song from TZP played, if this is not trivialization what is it. But people would watch it, get emotional, get sniffy.
Aaj Tak, will ask an online Poll, saying “Who looks better SRK in RNBDJ or Aamir in Ghajini” and trust me, u will have 400 responses in no time, and heated online debates.
Watch this!!!!
Needs to be seen….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F4_qwtM5yY&eurl=
On what ground is Pooja Bedi asked to give her opinions. Fucking dumbass airhead, who has no clue at all about real life, she makes me want to smash the TV set, whenever she opens that mouth of hers. I saw her once in a program, debating about drunk driving, and had i been in that discussion, i would have just strangled her, considering the inane way she was talking. She cant speak properly about something like drunken driving, and you are getting her views on serious issues like Global Warming.
Why the heck is Mahesh Bhatt asked to comment on everything from Global Warming to the War on Iraq? Just because he made a couple of decent movies, and he has a big mouth, that stinks whenever he opens it. Yeah but he is big fish for media, since he makes disparaging comments about Aamir saying why are we so bothered about the White Man’s whatever, though he has no qualms about stealing that White Man’s stuff for his crappy movies.
@Ratnakar…you know what..we have two segments of people…one who loves to watch sensationalism and others who hate it but still watch it…end result..news channels get all the eyebalss…its NO MORE NEWS ITS ONLY VIEWS THAT TOO DISTORTED
Aniruddha thanks for the link
Saurav
I will have to completely disagree with your analysis. I have been watching IBN & NDTV non stop for past few days whenever i had time. And your 2 best channels were actually quite ordinary. Rajdeep’s pain & agony was all fake, just like Barkha @ NDTV. Barkha Dutt is becoming a cartoon. It shilarious how she keeps instructing the cameraman all the time & repeating the same line twice. And there was a scene where it seemed she orchestrated all the people behind her to thank the armymen passing by in Bombay’s Local busses.
I watched Pronoy’s ad on NDTV – Enough is Enough. I have to say I prefer Vilasrao to Pronoy’s pain.
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TIMES NOW
I been hearing raves about Times Now’s coverage from all over India in past few days. Finally I got to watch some of it on Youtube & here also thanks to Dpac. So far to me they really have been the best. Arnab’s anger seems very genuine & passionate. I don’t know why you would want someone like him to quit journalism.
And he raised a very important point that i have been feeling from the moment everybody started saying “enough is enough”. That Media & the Elite is going crazy this time only because the Terrorist hit them for the 1st time. We have Blasts in busses & trains every month in India. This year even B’lore, Jaipur & Amdavad joined in. No one was that enraged. Right now the upper Middle Class is feeling threatened for the 1st time. People who go to Taj. People like you & me who go to Leopold. In last 3 days I have not seen anything about how many people died in CST station.
Why ? because the common man doesn’t count. And thats why I feel that the only positive thing out of this is that they attacked the elite. Ad it will bite them back. Had they killed 200 people in local trains, i don’t think Suhel Seth would get that enraged. And I’m really impressed that he himself admitted that we are the most hypocrite & selfish people.
Ratnakar
Thanks for sharing Rahul Bose article. I might think he is the worst actor of India, but today I agree with almost everything he said in that article.
I can’t believe it is Rahul Bose who said it. Not other artists in Bombay whom I admire.
@Mainak: Two of the better channels that is NDTV and IBN..have one of the most irritating anchors viz. Barkh Dutt and Rajdeep.I have metioned how barkha dutt is this amanpour hangover..hate her..and rajdeep..he shouts at the top of his voice..but their channel’s content is better off..
Secondly I wish you could see more of TIMES NOW..I dont know how much have you seen…but really i find Arnab quite presumptuous..he is also very rude to the guests..and sarcastic to the core.
@aniruddha
i actually did see it. all the parts. i was shocked and horrified. its like a mirror image of our views. both the nations are so alike in their contrived thinking. over here we blame pakistanis for everything. over there they are blaming the indians for everything. when we have such poiliticians and media personalities, think about the information that trickles down to the masses. such information is always bound to fan the already towering inferno of hate.
it has got me thinking as to what have I, a common Indian done to infuriate millions of Pakistanis. And what has a common Pakistani done to infuriate billions of Indians. when is this going to stop? hum sab kab tak is siyasat ki chakki mein piste jayenge?
Mainak..the worst part is that no one talks abt the ville parle blast..they used goddamn RDX in that blast
@Ratnakar
Mahesh Bhatt has his opinion on everything & he openly says them. Whats wrong with that? You don’t have to agree with him. I think his opinions are quite on the mark.
Expect for Sudhir Mishra, Shyam Benegal & now Rahul Bose after that great article on Outlook, there is probably only 2 or 3 other people from Bollywood who are not afraid to voice their opinions. They are artists, & it is their responsibility to help the society. Most of Bollywood either too self-centered or too scared to say anything.
Im going to disagree a lot with the author of this post. Will not comment on the Hindi channel reportage, coz i didnt watch them. But I followed TIMES NOW for over 50 hours through those 3 days, and Ill have to say that its been a very mature & responsible reportage, for most of those hours.
‘Arm chair critic society’ – its a very strong phrase to describe journalists, camerapersons and other crew members who sat out in the midst of a ‘war-like scenario’… for almost 3 days, trying to be brave and balanced, in an unexpected conflict-reportage situation. And it wasnt as safe as it looked… a foreign journalist did get hit by a stray bullet. To keep your calm, get your facts right, draw out insights, and relay every bit of your information responsibly and articulately is not easy – and I think the entire Times Now Team including Rahul Shivshankar, Mahrukh, Bhavtosh, Deepthy Menon & the rest did a compelling job. Even the IB inputs from Delhi were accurate and on most occasioe, well ahead of an official confirmation – this was good journalism. And almost at all times, the journalist made it very clear that he wasnt sharing all the info he had, coz it wasnt for public consumption. If the channel was juvenile, voyeuristic and immature, do u think they would have withheld info other channels didnt have?
When the mob started a premature celebration around Nariman House, it was a TN reporter who heard gunshots amidst the noise, and sought to CONFIRM that all was not over, and Nariman House was still a ‘live’ zone.
When reports of fresh gun shots at CST and GT hospital floated around, I think it was Arnab who kept insisting that as these reports were not confirmed, the channel would not put it out as a newsbreak… coz that might lead to immediate panic! And just as well… coz they were rumors! If the channel was interested in eyeballs, I dont think they would have done what they did!
It was the news channels that kept us updated with what was happening in that zone… minute by minute. Without commercial breaks. Without unnecessary post mortems and arm-chair analysis. Atleast upto the point where the Taj was declared safe (This was true for TN, though I think CNN-IBN did get into the discussion mode a little earlier than required). Im sorry, but
it wasn’t about eyeballs… it was about providing information. Not just to the regular viewer, but for everyone out there who waited painfully for the next list of survivors, because they had someone near or dear stuck in there.
Even a JK Dutt admitted that the news channels were a lot of help. On official request, some of the live footage was kept on a loop… to throw the terrorists offtrack, if they or the people they were in touch with were able to access live tv … a classic case of cleverly using the media for Psy-Ops! And almost all the English channels complied…
I admit, news channels are super guilty of abusing, over-using and mis-using the ‘breaking news’ tag…and of sensationalising trivial stories to get TRPs, most of the time.
But lets give the devil its due… because this time was different. This was a genuine ‘Breaking News scenario… it required a minute by minute coverage… It deserved all the attention it got… and as a regular Indian news channel consumer, Id like to be think that a channel like TN has come of age, with some very mature, responsible and insightful reportage.
The anger and the emotion in this case was very real… because terror has struck the closest this time… the closest it ever got to the Arnabs and the Dr Roys… and perhaps the rest of us on platforms like this.
Barkha Dutt, has kinda got carried away after Kargil. She does have this habit of trying to impose herself on others.
For me the best coverage came from 9x and DD.
@ Mayurica: I am a part of the arm chair critic society..not just the journos.
One of my friend has sent me this link…let us look at the media in pakistan:
http://www.daily.pk/politics/politicalnews/8360.html?task=view
If you cant open the link..here is the text..I dont know what to say:
Friday, 28 November 2008 16:23
The Indian media is playing exactly the same role as the U.S. media did in 2001. Some Indian channels have begun showing the Indian flag and patriotic songs, all of which makes it look like as if this is yet another ‘well anticipated’ war against terror. Or against Pakistan. But the best part is the response of the Indian government and military. Simply hilarious.
I watched this drama all night on eight different satellite news channels and noticed how pathetic and incompetent Indian government and security really is.
There is a total chaos in this city, Mumbai, and even the media doesn’t know what to tell the people. One minute they say, ‘they are all Pakistanis’, and then go, ‘Oh no! Wait, they are “Deccan Mujahedeen”‘ and then say, ‘Wait! It’s too early to say …’!
Another bullshit you see is that the Taj Hotel perhaps has 1000+ rooms and is so huge surrounded by commandos and all security forces and yet 4 to 5 terrorists continue to hold it for so long.
No mater how super these men might be, 4-5 people simply can not hold such a huge building hostage. So WHAT IS THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT HIDING?
If the Indians admit that there are several dozen perhaps even hundreds of people involved in this then it would be very hard to sell this lie that these are terrorists and spy agents who came from Pakistan.
I did not see a single helicopter in the air or any attempt by the Indian security forces to go on the roof and/or surround the hotel. Are they scared or is it that India simply does not have an air force?
Indian commandos arrived. These commandos were disembarking from trucks, holding truck railings at the back and then jumping out, almost like old crumbled men. I saw few of them standing on one hip holding their hands, ome of them hiding behind blockades.
So this was the level of Indian security and military response. Now about some other observations:
HOSTAGE:
Apparently foreigners and Jews have been taken hostage but this was not admit publicly to the media until 23 hours later. Why would suicide bombers and terrorists hold hostages? Why not simply finish them off if they have really come to die?
India’s Mumbai is well known to be owned by the underworld, known in India as ‘bhai loag’ [roughly translated Brother People]. These terrorists are so good they managed to kill so many including top Anti-Terrorism Force official who happened to be an officer of RAW, the Indian intelligence agency.
But the Indians are stupid. Instead of admitting their failure to control these gangs of smugglers and thugs they are blaming their usual and favorite scapegoats, A.K.A. Islamic Militants and Pakistan.
The fact will be established eventually that there already appears to be a much deeper conspiracy in all this tragic event.
But the Indian media is playing exactly the same role as the U.S. media did in 2001. Some Indian channels have begun showing the Indian flag and patriotic songs, all of which makes it look like as if this is yet another ‘well anticipated’ war against terror.
Which in fact may turn into a war against Pakistan at its height or war against Muslims in India at the least.
For how long will the world continue to fall in this trap?
There are several gains Indian will get from this act:
1- Election of Radical Hindu Nationalist Party
2- Passage of an Indian version of Patriot Act (against Muslims)
3- A Possible Indian attack on Pakistan [although the Indians don't have the guts to go that far]
4- Possibility of Indian lobby forcing United States to put sanctions on Pakistan by fabricating false evidence involving Pakistanis in this.
Which is really easy for India. They can come up with a few Pakistanis from Indian jails, handing them weapons and produce dead bodies of Pakistanis from these places.
Sourav, what is there to say?
The Pakistani society is so steeped in anti Indian feeling. And that starts from school. When i was a kid, and staying abroad in Libya, i got my hands on a Pakistani text book. It was full of lies, half truths. Right from school onwards they are indoctrinated with “India is our enemy”, “Jihad against India is holy”, “Hindus are Kaafirs” and all that nonsense. And that anti India feeling is not going to go away with some mushairas, cricket matches and rock concerts?
The movies “Khamosh Paani” and “Khuda Ke Liye” have exposed the rot deep in Pakistani society. Even now i see many Pakistani’s openly gloating on online forums, that now on country will visit India, and BCCI will lose. The biggest problem is the “Lose Lose” mentality that is prevalent. It is as if saying “Yeah we are screwed, but we are happy you are also screwed”.
Vis a Vis point 4, u mentioned, i really wish RAW and IB, were that smart. I really wish there was an Indian lobby in Pakistan, but its not there.
Indians in US, for all their economic clout, have not been able to build up a strong lobby the way Chinese and Jewish people have done. Why is it that we have seen Pakistani diplomats all over CNN, but not a single Indian person anywhere??
At times i feel being an Indian we get the worst of everything. We dont expect America or Israel to fight our battles, but the Indian Govt does not stand up for us. Its like we are being let down by our own people, as well as people outside.
Saurav the bitter truth, is that Indian lives have no value, we are expendable sitting ducks, meant to be shot at. Sorry if i am sounding very bitter.
Sourav,let me guess you whole heartedly agree with this Pakistani analysis while lamenting the incompetency and sensationalism of Indian media in failing to see the “truth”.
Times Now was the better of the lot.At least Arnab did not show utter contempt for the sentiments of the people angry and frustrated by the recurring atrocities. NDTV and CNNibn changed their focus grudgingly from blaming the security forces for not giving them details of the ops or if NSG in their incompetency gonna kill all the hostages to reflecting some of the helplessness of the peolple.
In fact i cringed when i saw our media and political leaders going overboard after Benazir Bhutto’s death, calling her a symbol of India-Pakistan friendship. My foot.
This “Apostle of Peace” was the one who openly stoked the militancy in Kashmir, for her own selfish purposes.She was the one who exhorted the Pakistani people to join the fight for “Azadi” and hailed them as “Martyrs”. Like Indira Gandhi she ultimately became a victim of her own creation.
@independy…i never said that i support what pakistan media..dont misquote me..i just put that link for reference…it shows how oyr media contradicts itself while hurrying into conclusions.
@Totally agree on comment no 55 ratnakar
@Ratnakar 56- A dead cow gives 40 ltrs of milk…
After modi dies, may be ppl will he was the epitome of Secularism or something.We should not forget that in politics, u can shift your stance as often as possible.
Hi Sourav,
You initiated an imporatnt and much needed discussion.
I am surprised to know about 9X News. Never thought they could be worthy of watching. Now I will try it out.
I thought Times Now covered the attacks very competently. Whatever said, Arnab is not as haughty and pushy as some of these newscaters have become (topped of course by Barkha Dutt – the high priestess of two penny knowledge); he doesn’t speak to you doused in self-importance (Srinivasan Jain is another one who has stayed humble and has still some use for manners).
To me, the best bites regarding the attacks came on this channel – from Suhel Seth who spoke from the heart and displayed the anger the occasion demanded.
In the past too, I have seen some stimulating discussions on this channel; their choice of guests and panelists is also comparatively better. They seem to prefer people who are actually well read and intellectually interesting.
another gem of a comment from our politicians
‘If it had not been (Major) Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have glanced that way.’ – Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan (courtesy rediff.com)
they are all going mad at the same fucking time.
O Boy! Suddenly their incompetence as not only a politician but also as a human being is coming out in the open. The problem is all politicians had become insensitive to the common man and his problems, and hence in this great tragedy they just don’t know what to say and how to react – they are all lost… and this is bringing out such stupid statements from each of them…
@Inca..these discussion were necessar..wanted to share it.
@amit: I want to smoke what R.R Patil smokes.The entire bunch of these guys are clueless what hit them.
Now this is interesting
http://arabia.ndtv.com/Story.aspx?pageheader=news&sub_category=&ID=NEWEN20080074800
“Taking the terror strikes on a Jewish establishment in Mumbai seriously, Israel’s Defence Ministry has decided to view the attack on Nariman House or Chabad House as an “enemy action” against the State of Israel.
The decision will entitle the families of the victims of Nariman House the same financial benefits that are granted to victims of terror attacks in Israel.
At least eight Israelis have been identified among the dead in last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai which claimed around 200 lives.”
Say what you may about Israel, but its a fact, that it is a country that values the lives of every citizen of it.
Thats Israel for you..the most persecuted state since ages..Ratnakar..I cant remeber the year but after many years of the holocaust on of the Nazi general was bumped off in Brazil by the Mossad.Thats how serious the are about their small state.
Sourav actually he was not bumped off, the Nazi Guy was Adolf Eichmann, and he was captured in Argentina, and bought to trial in Israel and hanged to death. Read the book “How i captured Adolf Eichmann”, fantastic one.
Thanks to my Dad, i ended up with an interest in Jewish history and Israel, and so read a lot about them.
Hey Ratnakar thanks for that piece of info..saw a docu on Discovery long time back..hence the half baked knowledge..:D
Its ok dude, u want anything on Jewish history or Israel, ask me. Nah i am not an expert, but i am passionate about somethings and this is one of them.
BTW do try reading The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth, fascinating one about Nazi hunters. The movie sucked though.
Thanks for the recos..Ill surely try to lay my hands on them…:)
I’m Pakistani. I completed most of my schooling in Pakistan and we never had text books teaching us to hate India, directly or indirectly. Also, the link provided, i.e.: of daily.pk is not representative of our dominant media. This should be obvious by the language used, which resembles a badly-written opinion piece. Of course, it is probably representative of some sections in our society, just like there are fringes in India who will advocate ill ideas.
But keeping in mind this topic, I wish some of the posters here would try and showcase some of the integrity and thoughtfullness they are asking for from the media. If the media has responsibility, so does the common man. The internet is vast. If you are going to pick on a selection of random anti-India pieces written by Pakistanis, don’t ignore the numerous ones where we stand by you in these horrible times.
If you don’t trust our emotions and our feelings, at least believe the fact that many Pakistanis have now realized that we can only progress if we have strong economic ties with India. We also know that our country is plagued by terrorism and even if India was to lose any foreign invesments (which it won’t due to the proportion of need and risk), we would not be getting the deals. Currently, one of our few economic prospects are to have strong ties with the emerging superpower, i.e.: India. We stand with nothing to gain in such a scenario as has been caused by the Mumbai attacks.
Above all that, we have nothing to gain as two populations ridden by terrorism and negativity.
There are no excuses for these terrorists, even if there whole family was burnt to the ground in front of them when there were kids or whatever next story Mahesh Bhatt can come up with…because I have met many people across the world who have been through hell and come out strong. They don’t have an excuse to bomb the Marriott in Islamabad, nor do they have an excuse to carry out such attacks on the Taj in Mumbai…or for that matter any city in the world.
The call for the hour is an international front against terrorism. Blaming each other is not going to get us there.
http://pakistaniat.com/2008/11/28/mumbaikar-mumbai-terror-pakistani-view/
@kanda poha:Well written comment..i truly understand..I think it is difficult for me to understand that Pakistan is also a victim of terror..for example Marriot blast..but over the period this notion is sinking in.Terror is global now sadly.
As a kid Pakistan-bashing was in the genes, I guess. Things first changed when some of my college mates went on a trip to Pakistan and wrote about it in the papers: they’re just like us with a few cultural differences here and there.
Now I actually have two flesh-and-blood Pakistani friends who love Mumbai as much as I do. I don’t know about others, but I certainly don’t buy the story that going to war will bring about a happy ending. Statements like “We should bomb Pakistan off the map” just seem juvenile now. People who say such things need to remember that a Marriott has been blown up in Pakistan and they too have bombings and terrorists to deal with.
Very aptly said..Kenny
Vijay Tendulakars article – “Muslims and I”
http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/23vijay.htm
@ kenny
with all due respect Pakistan’s track record has been abysmal. They created a monster that has gone beyond their control. The present democratically elected government does ignite some hope but i seriously doubt whether it could curb the menace whether by choice or by compulsion.
On one hand have you have talibani groups dominating certain NWFP tribal regions and then on the other hand there are the kashimiri militant breeding camps in PoK.
India would never even think of bombing PAK out of the map. Primarily because it is a nuclear weapon state. may be a troop buildup or a cancellation of trade and cricket ties is what will follow. But can u really blame the insecure, frustrated, angry common man when he suggests of bombing Pak. This does come out due to lack of intellectual articulation but also due to the stand of perpetual complicity and permanent state of denial adopted by Pakistan.
@ ratnakar..
u r calling arnab a retard…come on man dont be so unfair …agreed he gets stuck at times…but that guy was live for 54 hours and he didnt bull shit….
Of all the channels , the discussions and coverage on Times Now seemed to me the most reasonable if not compettetive….
Ratnakar & Saurav
I think all of India disagrees with your review of TIMES NOW & Arnab. And I’m glad so many people came out to support his excellent work.
Also agreed that this monster was created by Pakistan Govt. But we also know it has no control on it now. Pakistan Govt will be complete retard to do something like this when it is spending half its army after Taliban in the Northern Frontier.
This was clearly done with help from Taliban to take the heat off them. They want India Pakistan tension to escalate. Which means moving pakistani forces to Eastern Front.
Terrorism is a Intelligence problem. Invading & attacking countries will only create more terrorists.
@Kanda Poha with Triple-Layer Falooda
Thanks for coming to this forum & sharing your thoughts. We need more interaction in times like this.
If anyone wants to write a piece of their mind to the honorary chief minister of Kerala..
here is his email address
chiefminister@kerala.gov.in
http://broadband.indiatimes.com/toishowvideo/3781213.cms
The Kerala CM has the audacity to say something like, “If not for Sandeep, not even a dog would visit their home”…..
Utter disgrace…. Boycott this CM.. boycott any politician who does not condemn his statement….. Write every day to the CM of Kerala (Everyone of us) until he apologizes publicly for this insult……
@OM
I sent an email to the address that you have given (I cross-checked the address with the official website of Kerala Govt.) and it is the same. But, my email bounced back..
Typical Govt. website… you have all information there to contact but nothing works…
Anyway, sending the same email to the PM and also letting him know that the CM’s address does not work.. I thought of sending a paper copy but, I do not want to kill trees for that..
I am planning to send the email every day.. (A copy of the email sent to most national newspapers as well)…
Think about it.. if one city’s population sends the communication to them..
can they handle it? Even an online petition is not a bad idea…
I would appreciate all thoughts against my approach.. just so that I can think sanely..
Thanks.
Things just get worse…..
http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3779982.cms
I quote from the above article
Begin Quote—–
Amitabh Bachchan who usually expresses his thoughts and feelings through his blogs, sent me an SMS on Monday afternoon. Visibly angry and frustrated, the “angry young man” of Indian cinema forwarded an SMS that was sent to him by Sharmila Thackeray, wife of Raj Thackeray.
It read, “All those who had lost their lives while saving this city are Marathis. MNS workers are busy donating blood, helping police for rescue operations and lifting bodies.”
Says Mr. Bachchan, “Can they stoop any lower! After cowering underground while citizens of all nationalities were dying and the others being rescued by the NSG, the navy and the army…this is what they have to say!”
——-End Quote
First things first, i dont have any personal vendetta against Pakistan or its people. Nor i am interested in going to a war against them, contrary to opinion of some hot heads. But when i see those kind of half baked, articles full of half truths and lies, it gets me riled. And sorry i dont have the infinite wisdom nor intellectual capacity, to reason and think. I am just an “Aam Aadmi” on the street.
And one second, this time most of the people in India, and that is me included, are furious with our Govt and our political leaders. If you take the rallies and blogs and opinions, many are totally furious with the Indian Govt, you dont find many articles accusing Pakistan. Because right now, we have gone past the stage where we can keep accusing the Pakistani Govt and ISI for everything. The Indian Govt is accountable for our lives, not the Pakistani Govt nor the US govt.
Let me put it clear, Indians are angry with the Indian Govt, and we are not looking for war. We want the Govt to take care of our security, to protect it, to do what it should have done ages back.
And once again i apologize if i have offended feelings of any Pakistani people visiting here.
http://www.hotklix.com/?ref=content/152705
These kind of half baked analyses are what make me sick.
@ Sarang
Did Sharmila really send that SMS? I am willing to sponsor her ticket to the US, my Aunt is a pyschiatrist there.
@Ratnakar
All I quoted was from the link I provided… the truth of it depends on the news paper and Sr. B… But I completely agree for the need to seek mental help for her.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Election_Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080074888&type=News
“Muslim organisations in Mumbai have decided that Muslim cemeteries in Mumbai, where unclaimed bodies are usually buried, will not open its doors for the last rites of these urban jehadis.
“The killing of innocents is against Islam. They are bringing shame to 25
crore Muslims of India. These men are not Muslims. Why should we give them place anywhere? There is no place for them in our hearts and in our cemeteries,” said Hamid Abdul Razzak, president, Dawat-e-islami.
Unprecedented events demand an unprecedented response. And this time the community has gone beyond merely condemning terrorism. It’s shutting its doors on those who claim to act in their name.
Determined to deny the terrorists the martyrdom they seek, Muslim organisations have written to senior Mumbai police officials as well.
“The cemetery should not allow the police to bury the nine dead terrorists in their premises,” said Ibrahim Tai, president, Muslim Council Trust.”
Hoping at least this will make some of the “martyrdom” seekers make see sense.
BWT one good thing Raj T has done, is that he has prevented Deshdrohi from releasing in Mumbai, LOL.
Nahi re Ratnakar, I got defensive. My error, my tone was not right. I’m sorry.
I don’t want to make this another one of those politically correct discussions of ‘mera matlab yeh nahi tha’. I just think that proper information is key to any affirmative action and we cannot shirk our responsibility under the label of the ‘aam aadmi’. You seem to be far from the aam aadmi in terms of intellect and reasoning and you seem to be looking to make things better. For that, I think it’s important for us to be able to skim through the opinions of hundreds of people who express their opinions on the internet, often anonymously, to play out the law of averages. Or in some cases, find the rare voices of reason. I often think that showing one side in absolutes is manipulating while showing both sides is informing. Of course, it could also just be that you did not come across any Pakistani articles condemning these attacks, in which case, none of this applies, and I apologize.
On the other hand, I disagree with you in regards to the politics of this issue. I don’t think Pakistan (or Pakistanis) can just wipe their hands off any responsibility. We always have an excuse. There’s the US, the Taleban, the Afghan refugees, India, Israel, Jews…and now the ISI. First we used to blame everything on outsiders, now we blame everything on insider ‘rogue’ elements. We need to get our house in order and deal with terrorist camps, and if need be, I say, ask for NATO for help or at least training in dealing with it. We need to work with our neighbours, not in designing dreamy castles of whipped cream but in actually building brick by brick. Most of all, inform our citizens that ‘aam aadmi’ only stands to benefit from good ties with our neighbours. We asked for this country, we need to take responsibility for it and deal with it.
A better Indian government might have been able to reduce the scale of the tragedy but only a better Pakistani government could have stopped it from happening in the first place.
Hey Kanda Poha Whatever, thanks for the comment. This is what is really needed,a honest admission of what is going wrong, could go a long way in settling problems. I actually would be really happy if i found any article condeming the attacks unequivocally. But i have hope that there are Pakistanis like you who are willing to think sensibly, and see the situation as is. When you have more and more people from both nations, putting pressure on their Govts, they will be forced to react. And yes i do have Pakistani friends myself. As you said i am just hoping that what the media says in Pakistan, is not representative of the general opinion, because while i have not visited Pakistan, many of my friends and relatives did, and they come back with stories about the hospitality of the local people and their love for all things Indian.
As Ashwin said, none of us are right now keen on going into a war. Because God forbid it does break out, India will suffer as much as Pakistan does. Yeah there might be cooling off relations, and maybe we won’t have some cricket matches and mushairas. But if it does help matters in the long run, i think these are minor inconveniences.
Ahem, I’m offended. You just whatevered my Triple-Layer Falooda.
And yes, I actually quite agree on the cooling off of relations. In fact, I think we need to close cross-border travel for a while until we can promise better security on/from our end.
Kanda Poha With Triple-Layer Falooda. Chalo bhai, yeh lo aapka triple Layer Falooda vapas diya, ab to maaf karo humein ;)
BTW pretty dumb Q from my side, is this Triple Layer Falooda something you get in Pakistan a lot.
The Tiger has farted
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/shiv-sena-demands-presidents-rule-in-maharashtra/79536-3.html
He says he will not allow pakistani musicians or artists to perform in mumbai…nephew says..he will not allow..non-mumbaikars from india to reside in mumbai…both say..when in crisis..the tiger sleeps…bravo!!!!
Yaar Chacha na kuch na kuch to bola, ye Bhatija ab tak kuch nahin bolta hai kyon. Or is it Mama-Bhanje?
My ratings for the news channels I see in my hometown in Chennai on a scale of 10.
NDTV 24X7-6/10(8/10 if Prannoy roy is to be seen anywhere)
TIMES NOW- 4/10 (they could do without Arnab)
HEADLINES TODAY-1/10(disgustingly different)
CNN IBN- 5/10
NEWSX-8/10(Stays true to its catchline )
SUN NEWS,JAYA NEWS,RAJ NEWS-these are tamil news channels if u r wondering,they cant even be rated coz they didnt report the news until next morning.
“SUN NEWS,JAYA NEWS,RAJ NEWS-these are tamil news channels if u r wondering,they cant even be rated coz they didnt report the news until next morning.”
Well Bala, neither Karunanidhi nor Jaya were attacked, so why would they report it, LOL.
Any guesses which News Channel will have the best TRP ratings this week? My Guesses;-
Hindi- Aaj Tak
English – NDTV Indua
If you thought Indian media is bad check out Paki media.
http://www.hotklix.com/?ref=content/152704
well..well..nice discussion happening here..but i just cant figure out some information which the media reported initially about blasts at napeansea road and mazgaon..what about them?
@ sourav….
a blast did happened near Mazgaon at wadi bunder in a cab..the taxi driver got killed.
as for napean sea road they were rumours which spread after some people near napean sea rd mistook the oberio explosions to be occuring at N rd…..
yeah ashwin..got it now.:)
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=qSO5Xn7qAYs
look at the last few seconds..this footage is already on T.V. but if you look carefully you can see the way the terrorists are being literally thrashed by the cops.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080075046&type=News
In spite of what is happening, the Pakistani Govt keeps going through the same old circus of denial and double talk, that is not going to fool any sane, sensible person.
“Zardari said that he also doubted India’s claim that the sole surviving gunman, who was captured by Indian security forces, was a Pakistani national.
“We have not been given any tangible proof to say that he is definitely a Pakistani. I very much doubt that he’s a Pakistani,” he said.”
What proof does Zardari need that he is a Pakistani?
Zardari also denied Pakistan’s involvement in the attacks, saying the terror strikes were executed by the “stateless actors” who wanted to hold the “entire world hostage.”
“These (terrorists) are stateless actors who have been operating throughout the region. They include gunmen and the planners and are holding the entire world hostage,” he said.
“State of Pakistan is not responsible for the attacks in Mumbai… even the White House and the US intelligence agency CIA have said so,” he said
If the terrorists are stateless actors, then what is the issue in handing them over to trial.
I am sick of the lies and double standards by the Pakistani Govt, every crisis they go through the same old routine.
It neither takes action against the terror camps, nor does it cooperate with other nations.
And when the world accuses it, the Govt starts to cry like a kid, caught stealing in a store, claiming it is a “victim”.
Pakistan should seriously get over this victimhood and persecution complex.
well i may be late to react, but a good analysis of news channels and Barkha Dutt too. But what do you feel about the blanket coverage done by international channels. Did they do justice?
Yeah sidewinder..M.J Akbar wrote in letter to BBC about the use of word gunmen instead of terrorists.But BBC seems to lose its objectivity when there is an attack in U.K. I dont remember how the BBC addressed the tube bombers.