Four decades later, many people find themselves in the same position that TV Eachara Warrier was
Vineesh and Siby
In Kerala, more than anything else, Emergency means custodial torture and death, given that TV Eachara Warrier was not willing to let the disappearance of his son P Rajan go unpunished. Four decades later, many people find themselves in the same position that Warrier was. The only difference perhaps, is that unlike Warrier and his wife, the police have returned the inexplicably wounded bodies of men they have picked up.
65-year-old Venu sits in front of his shabby two-room house in Ernakulam district, unable to recall exactly when his son Vineesh died.
Weeping, he said: “The police took him away while we were having lunch. We did not see him alive (after that).”
The Elamakkara police (Ernakulam district) arrested Vineesh (32) on March 16 for not paying the fine in a petty case. On March 20, the Aluva police told them that Vineesh was critically ill, and had been admitted to the Thrissur Medical College hospital. By the time the family reached, Vineesh had died.
“They said he had a heart attack, but his body was full of wounds and marks. We asked hospital staff what happened, but no one gave us an answer. They asked us to wait for the autopsy report,” says Anjali, Vineesh’s sister in law.
Venu They have no idea how Vineesh was admitted to the Thrissur Medical College when he was arrested in Ernakulam, which is about 75 kms away. “He was healthy and hard working. He had no health issues,” Anjali said.
Three months later, the family has not been given the autopsy report. “I saw blood clots on his hands and face. He looked weird when we saw him in the hospital. We don’t have the money to pursue this. What can poor people like us do, except weep silently?” Venu says.
Soon after Vineesh’s death made news, political parties and local people joined the family in their fight for justice. But slowly, the supporters have dwindled.
“His death is a loss to me and to his father. It affected only us. We are the ones who gave birth to him, raised him and loved him. We are labourers, very poor. We have no power and no money. Who will help us? We don’t even know how to go to court,” says Sarojini, Vineesh’s mother.
A similar story emerged from Kottayam district. On June 6, 28-year-old truck driver Robin developed uneasiness and was admitted to Kottayam Medical College where he died. His family alleges he was tortured by the Pala police after they picked him up the previous day for behaving in a suspicious manner.
Police however, claim that Robin was drunk when they took him into custody. “He was not well when we arrested him. He had delusions and talked without logic. We had informed his family that very night,” Pala Circle Inspector Babu Sebastian claimed.
The next day, when Robin’s father and his colleague went to the Pala police station, they let him off. He died that very day.
“He had no sickness previously. The cause of death is still unknown,” says Ebin, Robin’s cousin. They too have not received the post-mortem report.
Ebin has lodged a complaint with the district magistrate, seeking an enquiry into the wounds on Robin’s body. He says the family will fight it out until they get justice. The wait for 40-year-old Siby’s family has been a lot longer. On June 29, 2015, the Marangattupally police in Kottayam district picked up Siby after he supposedly had a fight with a neighbour.
When his family reached the police station, they found that Siby was made to stand in the rain. Despite repeated pleas, the police did not allow him to be taken home. The next day, they were informed that Siby was unwell and had been taken to Kottayam Medical College, the media reported.
Siby's parents Siby’s relative told the media that he had visible injuries. Siby died on July 1. The Marangattupally police claimed that Siby was injured in the fight with his neighbour, a 16-year-old boy. The media however, reported that Siby was tortured in police custody and that it was so extreme that he urinated in the police station while it was carried out.
Despite complaints to various authorities, Siby’s family says no action has been taken.
Rajasthan Women Commission member takes selfie with rape survivor, OUTRAGE FORCES HER TO QUIT
The chairperson Suman Sharma is also in the selfie along with the member
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported this morning that a selfie clicked by the member of Rajasthan State Commission for Women with a rape victim courted controversy prompting the chairperson of the commission to seek a written explanation. By late evening the outrage had forced Suman Sharma to quit.
Interestingly, the Chairperson Suman Sharma is also in the selfie along with the member Somya Gurjar. The selfie was clicked by Gurjar on Tuesday when she along with chairperson had gone to meet the rape victim in Mahila police station (Jaipur North).
"I was talking to the victim when the member of the commission clicked these selfies. I am not aware when she (Somya Gurjar) clicked. I do not favour such act and has sought a written explanation from her. She has been asked to submit the explanation by tomorrow," Sharma told PTI.
Interestingly, two pictures, in which Gurjar is seen clicking the selfie, got viral on WhatsApp on Wednesday. Both Gurjar and Sharma are in the frame of the selfie and the pictures of the act were clicked by someone standing near them in the chamber of the police officer.
In the pictures, Gurjar is seen holding the mobile device and the Chairperson is also looking in the frame (of the selfie).
The selfie culture has been pioneered by Narendra Modi ever since he was chief minister of Gujarat and encouraged the cult following around him. The famed victory sign as he emerged out of the voting booth in Vadodara resulted in a court challenge to the ethics of the move.
A year to the day today, June 30, 2015, the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of Narendra Modi, took Twitter by storm on Sunday when he asked people to post selfies with their daughters. The hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter soon started trending worldwide, with several fathers as well as mothers tweeting pictures of themselves with their daughters.
In a shocking incident in Alwar district, a 30-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her husband and his two brothers who tattooed expletives on her forehead and hand for not giving Rs 51,000 as the dowry.
On Monday, an FIR was registered under sections of 498-A (Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act), 376 (punishment for rape) and 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) of IPC and an investigation in the case has been initiated.
मुजफ्फरनगर दंगों के स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के संबंध में उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा द्वारा गठित जांच समिति के समक्ष टीवी टुडे चैनल समूह के संपादकीय व प्रबंधकीय अधिकारियों ने जो साक्ष्य प्रस्तुत किए हैंं, उससे टी वी चैनलों के न्यूज रूम के भीतर के कामकाज की संस्कृति जाहिर होती है। दिनांक 17 सितम्बर 2013 को "आज तक" एवं "हेड लाइन्स टुडे" चैनलों पर मुजफ्फरनगर दंगों के विषय में प्रसारित किये गये स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में सदन के एक वरिष्ठ सदस्य/मंत्री मोहम्मद आजम खां के विरुद्ध लगाये गये आरोपों के परिप्रेक्ष्य में यह जांच समिति गठित की गई थी। जन मीडिया के सौजन्य से मीडियाविजिल जांच समिति के प्रतिवेदन के उस संपादित अंश को प्रस्तुत कर रहा है जिसमें न्यूज रूम के भीतर के कामकाज की संस्कृति उजागर होती है। पहली किस्त में स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के पीछे की राजनीति पर पोस्ट के बाद दूसरी किस्त में हमने दीपक शर्मा और दो रिपोर्टरों के बयानात प्रस्तुत किए और तीसरी किस्त में चैनल हेड, इनपुट हेड और आउटपुट हेड के बयान प्रस्तुत किए गए। अब पढ़ें कि चैनल के एंकरों और मालिक अरुण पुरी ने जांच समिति के समक्ष क्या बयान दिए हैं।
आज तक के एंकर्स
'टी.वी. टुडे नेटवर्क' के उपर्युक्त पदाधिकारियों के अतिरिक्त एंकरों का मौखिक साक्ष्य लिया गया जिन्होंने इस स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को 'टी.वी. टुडे नेटवर्क' के "आज तक" तथा "हेड लाइन्स टुडे" चैनलों पर प्रसारित किया था। पुण्य प्रसून वाजपेयी जिनके द्वारा स्टिंग ऑपरेशन "आज तक" चैनल पर प्रसारित किया गया था, उन्होंने यह कहा है कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के विषय में एडिटोरियल बोर्ड निर्णय लेते हैं। चैनल में खबर लाने का कार्य इऩपुट का होता है और जो दिखाया जाता है, वह आउटपुट का होता है। न्यूज रीडर के सामने जो लिखा होता है वह उसको पढ़ता है लेकिन एंकर के सामने कुछ भी लिखा नहीं होता है। वाजपेयी का यह साक्ष्य अत्यन्त महत्वपूर्ण है। इससे यह परिलक्षित होता है कि एंकर अपने विवेक से भी बहुत सी बातें प्रसारण के समय कहता है। उन्होंने यह भी कहा है कि जो तथ्य उनके सामने आते हैं उनके आधार पर इन्टरप्रिटेशन (निर्वचन) एंकर के रूप में करते हैं। उन्होंने यह स्वीकार किया कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के प्रसारण में मुलायम सिंह का नाम नहीं लेना चाहिए था। मोहम्मद आजम खान के विषय में जो प्रश्न पूछा गया है उसके विषय में समिति का क्रिटिकल होना जायज है तथा यदि वह स्वयं रिपोर्टर की जगह होते तो उनका तरीका भिन्न होता। इस प्रकार से उन्होंने यह स्वीकार किया कि रिपोर्टर ने जिस प्रकार से प्रश्न पूछा था वह उपयुक्त नहीं था। उन्होंने यह कहा कि "अब क्या होना चाहिए कैसे कह दें लेकिन जो चीज हुई हैं उनके साथ खड़े हैं। जो चीज हो रही हैं एडिटोरियली हम रिपोर्ट नहीं कर सकते जो आपको नागवार लगा है हम भी उसको बिना अधिकारियों के बोले नहीं कह रहे हैं। आपका ऐनेलिसिस बिल्कुल सही है, हम उससे इंकार नहीं कर रहे हैं।" इस प्रकार वाजपेयी ने परोक्ष रूप से यह स्वीकार किया कि समिति द्वारा जो शंकाएं प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के प्रसारण के विषय में उठायी गयी हैं वह आधारविहीन नहीं हैं। वाजपेयी द्वारा अपने साक्ष्य में यह भी स्वीकार किया गया कि एडिटोरियली जो रिपोर्ट चल रही थी उसका प्रसारण जो भी एंकर के जेहन में आया एंकर ने उसको सामने रखा। इससे स्पष्ट हैं कि वाजपेयी यह मानते हैं कि एंकर स्वविवेक से भी प्रसारण के समय विभिन्न तथ्यों को प्रदर्शित करते हैं। वाजपेयी द्वारा अपने साक्ष्य में यह भी कहा गया कि मा. सर्वोच्च न्यायालय को इस सम्बन्ध में मार्गदर्शी सिद्धांत बनाने चाहिए।
राहुल कंवल राहुल कंवल ने यह स्पष्ट किया कि स्क्रिप्ट तैयार करने, उसकी एडिटिंग करने एवं उसको अंतिम स्वरूप देने में चैनल हेड की भूमिका होती है। कंवल ने यह भी स्वीकार किया कि मोहम्मद आजम खां को इस विषय में आरोपित करने से पूर्व उनकी प्रतिक्रिया/पक्ष लिया जाना चाहिए था, परन्तु चूंकि वह उपलब्ध नहीं हो सके, अतः उनका पक्ष नहीं लिया गया है। यह पूछे जाने पर कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के दौरान रिपोर्टर्स ने यह कहा था कि "मेरे ख्याल से इसमें मोहम्मद आजम खां का दबाव है", उपयुक्त है या नहीं। तो राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह कहा गया है कि "ख्याल के आधार पर ही" एन्वेस्टीगेशन होता है एवं पत्रकार पूछता है।
राहुल कंवल मैनेजिंग एडिटर, हेड लाइन्स टुडे जिन्होंने कि हेडलाइन्स टुडे पर प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को एंकर के रूप में प्रसारित भी किया था, द्वारा अपने मौखिक साक्ष्य में यह कहा गया कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में रिपोर्टर, एस.आई.टी टीम के लोग, इनपुट के लोग एवं आउटपुट के लोग शामिल होते हैं। कंवल द्वारा यह कहा गया कि उनका सम्बन्ध इस कार्यक्रम में केवल अंग्रेजी में जो प्रोग्राम दिखाया था उससे है वह उसी से सम्बन्धित प्रश्नों का जवाब दे पाएंगे। राहुल कंवल ने अपने मौखिक साक्ष्य में मुख्य रूप से यह कहा कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के दौरान जो तथ्य उभरकर आये हैं उनकी कड़ियां जोड़कर उन्होंने उसको प्रस्तुत किया। राहुल कंवल अपने साक्ष्य में यह नहीं बता पाये कि विभिन्न बातें जो उन्होंने प्रसारण के दौरान एंकर के रूप में कही हैं उनके पुख्ता साक्ष्य क्या है? राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह पूछे जाने पर कि उन्होंने राजनैतिक दबाव की बात कैसे कही तो यह उत्तर दिया कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के विभिन्न तथ्यों से उन्होंने यह 'कॉनक्लूजन' निकाला कि पुलिस को शिथिलता बरतने के लिए राजनैतिक दबाव था। प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट को गलत तरीके से दर्ज कराये जाने के लिए ऊपर से दबाव था इस बात के विषय में भी उन्होंने कहा कि यह 'कॉनक्लूजन' उन्होंने स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में उजागर हुए विभिन्न प्रश्नों के उत्तर से निकाला था। राहुल कंवल से जब यह पूछा गया कि यह उनका 'इनफ्रेन्स' है तो उन्होंने बल देकर यह कहा कि यह उनका 'इनफ्रेन्स' नहीं वरन् 'कॉनक्लूजन' है।
राहुल कंवल द्वारा अत्यंत बल देकर यह बात कही गयी कि उन्होंने विभिन्न कड़ियां जोड़कर यह 'कॉनक्लूजन' निकाले हैं, परन्तु उनके द्वारा ऐसा कोई 'कॉनक्लूसिव' साक्ष्य प्रस्तुत नहीं किया गया जो स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में ऐसी बातें कहने हेतु उजागर हुए हों। राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह स्वीकार किया गया कि मोहम्मद आजम खान के विषय में रिपोर्टर द्वारा जो प्रश्न पूछे गये उसका अन्दाज सही नहीं था। यदि वह स्वयं इस प्रश्न को पूछते तो वह अलग अन्दाज में पूछते। राहुल कंवल के अनुसार इसमें केवल अन्दाज का फर्क है। उनसे पूछने पर राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह कहा गया कि जो पुलिस प्रशासन कह रहा था उसकी कड़ियां जोड़कर जो तस्वीर बनती है उसके आधार पर उन्होंने यह कहा कि ऊपर से दबाव के कारण अभियुक्तों को रिहा किया गया। राहुल ने अपने मौखिक साक्ष्य में यह कहा कि सभी अधिकारियों के जो अभिकथन स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के दौरान आये हैं उनको जोड़कर देखने से यह तस्वीर बनती है कि उस समय ऊपर से दबाव था।
राहुल कंवल से जब यह पूछा गया कि उन्होंने स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के प्रसारण के दौरान यह बात कैसे कही कि मोहम्मद आजम खान द्वारा दरोगा को फोन किया गया था तो उन्होंने यह कहा कि चूंकि जिस दरोगा से यह प्रश्न पूछा गया था उसका उत्तर 'बिल्कुल ठीक है, बिल्कुल ठीक है' था। अतः उन्होंने इस संदर्भ में प्रस्तुतिकरण किया। राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह कहा गया कि हो सकता है कि मोहम्मद आजम खान का फोन आया हो तथा उनके पास जो स्क्रिप्ट एवं आधार हैं उसी के आधार पर स्टोरी खड़ी की गयी। इस प्रकार राहुल कंवल द्वारा अपने साक्ष्य में यह स्वीकारा गया कि राजनैतिक दबाव अथवा मोहम्मद आजम खान द्वारा निर्देश दिये जाने के विषय में उनके पास कोई पुख्ता साक्ष्य नहीं थे वरन् उन्हें स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में दिये गये विभिन्न तथ्यों के आधार पर अपना स्वयं का 'कॉनक्लूजन' निकाला था। राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह स्पष्ट किया गया कि इस स्टिंग ऑपरेशन का प्रसारण बहुत सोच-समझ कर किया गया है तथा इसमें सभी सावधानियां बरती गयी हैं। राहुल कंवल से जब यह पूछा गया कि उन्होंने यह बात किस आधार पर कही कि अभियुक्तों को मोहम्मद आजम खान के कहने पर रिहा कर दिया गया तो उन्होंने यह कहा कि जब एक के बाद तथ्यों को जोड़ा तो उससे यह 'कॉनक्लूजन' निकल रहा है। इस पर राहुल कंवल के मौखिक साक्ष्य में यह स्पष्ट आया है कि उन्होंने विभिन्न तथ्यों के आधार पर अपना 'कॉनक्लूजन' निकाला एवं तदनुसार स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को प्रसारित कर दिया। राहुल कंवल द्वारा अपने मौखिक साक्ष्य में यह भी कहा गया कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के मामले में प्रभावित पक्ष का वर्जन प्रसारण के दौरान ही लिया जाता है क्योंकि यदि उससे पहले उनका वर्जन लिया जायेगा तो स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को प्रसारित किया जाना मुश्किल होगा। राहुल कंवल द्वारा यह भी कहा गया कि प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में जो साक्ष्य अधिकारियों के वक्तव्यों के माध्यम से आये थे उनके कोरेबोरेशन (समर्थन) की आवश्यकता नहीं थी।
गौरव सावंत "हेड लाइन्स टुडे" के एक एंकर गौरव सावंत द्वारा अपने मौखिक साक्ष्य में मुख्य रूप से यह कहा गया है कि उनकी भूमिका एंकर के रूप में स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के प्रसारण की थी तथा जो भी बातें उन्होंने कहीं उसके बारे में उनके चैनल के सम्पादक द्वारा लिये गये निर्णय के अनुसार लिखा हुआ दिया जाता है जिसको कि वे पढ़ते हैं। गौरव सावंत से पूछे जाने पर स्वयं के विवेक का प्रयोग करने के विषय में संतोषजनक उत्तर नहीं दे पाये। 'कतिपय' शब्द जो उनके द्वारा प्रसारण के दौरान साम्प्रदायिकता के विषय में बोले गये थे उसके बारे में गौरव सावंत ने यह कहा कि जो साक्ष्य स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के दौरान उजागर हुए थे उसके आधार पर उन्होंने वह प्रस्तुतिकरण किया था। गौरव सावंत द्वारा यह स्वीकार किया गया कि जो कुछ भी उन्होंने एंकर के रूप प्रस्तुतिकरण के सम्बन्ध में बोला है उसके लिए वह स्वयं जिम्मेदार है जब गौरव सावंत से यह पूछा गया कि इस बारे में उन्हें कोई साक्ष्य दिया गया कि लखनऊ से किसी ऊंचे स्तर से फोन आया तो उन्होंने कहा कि मुझे इस बारे में कोई साक्ष्य नहीं दिये गये थे। गौरव सावंत द्वारा अपने साक्ष्य में यह भी स्वीकार किया गया कि खबर रोकी नहीं जानी चाहिए परन्तु हर चीज को वैरीफाई करके ही दिखाया जाना चाहिए। गौरव सावंत से समिति द्वारा जब यह पूछा गया कि उन्होंने सरकारी सिस्टम को कटघरे में खड़ा किया तथा उत्तरप्रदेश विधानसभा के एक वरिष्ठ सदस्य का नाम लिया जबकि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के दौरान किसी अधिकारी ने ऐसा नहीं कहा कि सरकार दंगाइयों से मिल गयी थी तो क्या दिखाने से पहले इस पर विचार नहीं किया जाना चाहिए था तो गौरव सावंत द्वारा यह स्वीकार किया गया कि उनके वरिष्ठों द्वारा इस पर विचार जरूर करना चाहिए था।
पद्मजा जोशी 'हेड लाइंस टुडे' की एक अन्य एंकर जिन्होंने प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को प्रसारित किया था पद्मजा जोशी द्वारा अपने मौखिक साक्ष्य में कहा गया कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन का निर्णय एस.आई.टी के एडिटर के स्तर पर होता है तथा उन्हें मात्र एंकरिंग करने के लिए कहा जाता है। एंकर की सहमति नहीं ली जाती उसे निर्देश दिये जाते हैं। जोशी द्वारा यह भी कहा गया कि उनको जो स्क्रिप्ट दी जाती है उसी के आधार पर वह प्रस्तुतिकरण करती हैं। यह पूछे जाने पर कि क्या वह एंकर के रूप में अपने विवेक का प्रयोग नहीं करती तो जोशी द्वारा उत्तर दिया गया कि "जी नहीं, वह अपने वरिष्ठों पर विश्वास करती है"। जब जोशी से यह पूछा गया कि उनको नहीं लगता कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में कुछ ऐसी बाते हैं जो आधारविहीन हैं और जिसके कारण दंगा बढ़ सकता है तो इस बारे में उन्होंने स्वीकार किया कि भविष्य में इसको देखा जा सकता है। जोशी द्वारा अधिकतर प्रश्नों का यही उत्तर दिया गया कि उनको जो निर्देश अथवा स्क्रिप्ट मिलती है उसी के अनुसार वह कार्य करती है यहां तक कि वह स्वयं के विवेक का इस्तेमाल नहीं करती हैं। मुख्य कार्यपालक अधिकारी " टी.वी. टुडे " नेटवर्क के मुख्य कार्यपालक अधिकारी आशीष बग्गा ने यह बताया कि उनकी इस पूरे मामले में कोई भूमिका नहीं थी। बग्गा के अनुसार स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में सभी निर्णय चैनल हेड/चैनल एडिटर लेते हैं तथा रिपोर्टर्स एवं करेसपोंडेंस कवरेज करके चैनल एडिटर को सामग्री देते हैं। उन्होंने यह स्पष्ट रूप से कहा कि प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन किये जाने से पूर्व उनकी अनुमति नहीं ली गई थी। प्रसारण से पूर्व स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को देखने की बात को भी बग्गा ने नकारा है। बग्गा के अनुसार वह मुख्य रूप से ग्रुप के व्यापार का पर्यवेक्षण करते हैं। बग्गा ने अपने साक्ष्य में इस बात की भी अनभिज्ञता प्रदर्शित की कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में कतिपय राजनैतिक व्यक्तियों के विरुद्ध आरोप लगाये गये हैं। बग्गा ने दीपक शर्मा के इस कथन को गलत बताया कि मुख्य कार्यपालक अधिकारी से प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन की अनुमति ली गई थी। बग्गा के अऩुसार इस प्रकार की अनुमति एवं क्लीयरेंस चैनल हेड द्वारा दी जाती है। बग्गा ने यह स्वीकार किया है कि यदि प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन मार्गदर्शी सिद्धान्तों के विरुद्ध है तो वह उपयुक्त नहीं है। बग्गा ने यह स्वीकारा है कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में टेक्नीकली जो गलत बातें कही गयीं हैं वह गलत मानी जायेंगी, परन्तु उनका स्पष्टीकरण एडिटोरियल वाले ही दे सकते हैं। जब बग्गा से यह ज्ञात किया गया कि यदि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन में गाइडलाइन्स का अनुपालन नहीं किया गया है तो आपके स्तर से प्रस्तुत प्रकरण में क्या एक्शन लिया गया है, तो उन्होंने कहा कि संबंधित व्यक्ति अब कम्पनी में कार्यरत नहीं है। बग्गा ने यहां स्वीकार किया कि रॉ फुटेज को मूल रूप से उपलब्ध न कराया जाना उपयुक्त नहीं था, परन्तु इसके साथ ही उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि इस तथ्य की उनको समुचित जानकारी नहीं है।
अरूण पुरी, प्रबंध निदेशक,
समिति द्वारा अरूण पुरी, प्रबंध निदेशक, "टी.वी टुडे नेटवर्क" को समिति के समक्ष साक्ष्य हेतु उपस्थित होने के निर्देश दिये गये थे। अरूण पुरी द्वारा समिति के समक्ष एक अनुरोध पत्र प्रेषित किया गया, जिसमें कि उन्होंने यह निवेदन किया कि वह अपने दायित्व कम्पनी की नीतियों के अनुसार निभाते हैं। कम्पनी के विभिन्न कामों को कार्यरूप में परिणत करने की जिम्मेदारी कम्पनी के उन अधिकारियों एवं कर्मचारियों को सौंपी गई है, जिन्हें इस काम के लिए विशेष रूप से कम्पनी ने नियुक्त किया है। पुरी के अनुसार वह समाचार प्रसारण समेत कम्पनी के अन्य दैनिक कामों में सीधे तौर पर सम्मिलित नहीं होते हैं, क्योंकि इंडिया टुडे ग्रुप की गतिविधियां इतनी विस्तृत हैं कि उनके लिए ऐसा किया जाना सम्भव नहीं है। पुरी के अनुसार टी.वी.टी.एन के इलेक्ट्रॉनिक न्यूज मीडिया में भी कम्पनी ने विशेष जिम्मेदार लोगों को नियुक्त किया है, जिन्हें आधिकारिक तौर पर निर्णय लेने की शक्ति प्रदान की गई है।
अरूण पुरी द्वारा अपने पत्र में समिति को यह अवगत कराया गया है कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के मामले में टी.वी.टी.एन एक विस्तृत प्रक्रिया का पालन करता है। टी.वी.टी.एन सबसे पहले यह सुनिश्चित करता है कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन जनहित में होना चाहिए। स्टिंग ऑपरेशन की संस्तुति से पहले मैनेजिंग एडिटर के आदेश पर इनपुट एडिटर स्टिंग ऑपरेशन की व्यावहारिकता की समीक्षा करता है। एक बार अच्छी तरह से सबूतों की जांच-परख और विश्लेषण के बाद पत्रकारिता के मानदण्डों के अनुरूप संवाददाताओं को स्टिंग ऑपरेशन करने की इजाजत दी जाती है। पुरी ने यह भी अवगत कराया है कि स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को सम्पादित करने के लिए टी.वी.टी.एन ने स्पेशल इन्वेस्टीगेशन टीम (एस.आई.टी.) का गठन किया है। एस.आई.टी. द्वारा स्टिंग ऑपरेशन सम्पादित करने के पश्चात् रॉ फुटेज को कॉपी किया जाता है और उसे उसी रूप में आउटपुट हेड के पास भेजा जाता है। पुरी के अनुसार अंतिम रूप से स्टिंग ऑपरेशन को प्रसारित करने की संस्तुति एस.आई.टी एडिटर देता है। उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि एस.आई.टी. के एडिटर दीपक शर्मा को इस तरह के अधिकार दिये गये थे तथा उन्हीं की देखरेख में प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन सम्पन्न हुआ था। पुरी ने पत्र के माध्यम से यह भी अवगत कराया कि इस मामले में एंकर की भूमिका सीमित होती है। एंकर को स्क्रिप्ट पढ़ने के लिए दी जाती है, परन्तु पुरी ने यह भी कहा कि शो में लाइव चैट के दौरान एंकर अपने विवेक से बोलता है।
अरूण पुरी ने समिति को यह भी सूचित किया है कि प्रश्नगत स्टिंग ऑपरेशन के संबंध में टी.वी.टी.एन ने भी एक आन्तरिक जांच शुरू की थी। इससे पहले कि यह जांच पूरी होती, दीपक शर्मा (एस.आई.टी.) कम्पनी का साथ छोड़ गये तथा इस प्रकरण से संबंधित 02 अन्य रिपोर्टर्स भी कम्पनी से सेवामुक्त हो चुके हैं। पुरी ने यह बताया है कि वह रोजाना के कामकाज में सम्मिलित नहीं होते हैं, परन्तु समिति को उनकी ओर से पूरा सहयोग प्रदान किया जायेगा। पुरी ने यह भी कहा है कि उन्होंने सदैव यह प्रयास किया है कि अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता को इस प्रकार से प्रयोग किया जाये जिससे कि विधायिका या विधायिका के किसी सदस्य की अवमानना न हो।
In a cogent letter, the signatories representing affected communities have opposed the dilution of safeguards in favour of Businesses and Violation of Community Rights
Twenty four groups working on environmental, labour and human rights have written to the Executive Directors of World Bank not to dilute the environmental and social safeguards in place to protect natural resources even as the President of the World Bank visits India to explore new financing opportunities.
India has been the largest recipient of World Bank loans in the history of the World Bank. A corollary to this has been that it is many of World Bank projects that have caused severe displacement, environmental destruction and social fragmentation. These include the much debated Sardar Sarovar Project in the Narmada river, the Mumbai Urban Transport Project and very recently the Tata Mundra MEGA power coal project.
Commenting on the two drafts of the Safeguard Polices put forward by the WB, this collective of signatories has stated that the drafts clearly demonstrate that all the concerns expressed in their letter to the Bank – about the intentions being wrong, the process being flawed and the false propaganda around ‘participation’ have proven true. The end result remains the same – to push investments in all possible sectors, with scant regard for social and environmental impacts and without any democratic and participatory processes.
The letter also said that, “The World Bank projects are not only a contributor to the climate change situation, but the projects are also destroying the capacity of the people to adapt to changing climate.” Prominent among the signatories are the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), International Rivers, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, North East Peoples Alliance, All India Union of Forest Working People, National Domestic Workers Union and Narmada Bachao Andolan(NBA).
As the World Bank clearly steps up its intentions to finance Indian projects, the Indian people would like to remind them to keep the poor and the planet at the core of development and not to dilute any existing safeguards.
The World Bank initiated the safeguards after large scale protests financed by them including the Narmada Project. The safeguard review was initiated by World Bank in 2012 as part of its strategic reorganisation. The earlier drafts have been criticised by a wide range of groups including UN experts, local communities, civil society organisation etc.
Full text of letter
June 25, 2016
Dear Executive Directors, World Bank
We are representatives of people’s movements, civil society organisations, and other concerned citizens from India, who have been engaged with, or monitoring World Bank financed projects for the past many years.
In April 2013, around 60 of us jointly issued a statement titled ‘Sham Consultations: No More’ (appended) during the first phase of the Safeguard consultations. We have detailed our opposition to the consultations, citing examples of different projects to establish that “the so-called environmental and social safeguards of the Bank are nothing more than a veneer of protection to mask the real impacts of this dangerous financial institution which works only to increase profitability of its shareholders and furthering the cause of the extractive-accumulative large capital – at any cost.”
While we stand by that, and despite many voices of opposition and concern from different parts of the globe, the Bank continued it process of consultations, without addressing the issues we collectively raised, and brought out two drafts of it. The drafts clearly demonstrated all that we said in our letter – the intentions are wrong, the process flawed and the purpose of this is to fool people, giving them a false sense of participation. The end result remains the same – to push investments in all possible sectors, with scant regard for social and environmental impacts and without any democratic and participatory processes. The World Bank projects are not only a contributor to climate change situation, the projects are also destroying the capacity of the people to adapt to changing climate.
To add insult to injury, our government has advocated for weakening of the policies claiming that these Safeguard policies are too costly and time-consuming to implement; inefficient when national systems could more quickly and easily be applied; and undermine national authority and sovereignty by putting harsh conditions on Bank lending.
We do not share this view with our government. Our opposition was on different grounds and it was not to weaken the policies.
We believe that unless there are genuine efforts to learn from past experiences, the consultations are more inclusive and participatory, and keeping people and environment in the core of any planning, these policies will only further disempower the people, rob them off their natural resources and push them to destitution.
Yours truly, National Alliance of People’s Movements International Rivers South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People International Rivers South Asia North East Peoples Alliance Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha All India Union of Forest Working People National Domestic Workers Union National Cyclists Union All India Forum of Forest Movements Narmada Bachao Andolan Matu Jansangthan, Uttarakhand Beyond Copenhagen Collective, New Delhi Delhi Forum, Delhi Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, Madhya Pradesh Institute for Democracy and Sustainability, New Delhi Machimar Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan, Gujarat Intercultural Resources, (ICR) New Delhi. Urban Research Center, Karnataka Environment Support Group, Karnataka Khan Kaneej Aur ADHIKAR (Mines minerals & RIGHTS), Jharkhand Delhi Solidarity Group Srijan Lokhit Samiti, Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh Theeradesa Mahila Vedi, Kerala
The editor of TheMilli Gazette, Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan has alleged that the Modi government is hounding his publication and has launched a multi-pronged attack in an attempt to shut it down. While the community-oriented publication has tottered on the brink since inception for lack of adequate response and support from Muslims, the government moves, Dr Khan fears, are aimed at pushing it over the precipice.
On March 12 this year, TheMilli Gazette published a news report filed by a freelance journalist, Pushp Sharma. Basing himself on one of the documents he had received from the Union Ayush Ministry in response to an RTI query, Sharma claimed that in its recruitment, the ministry had discriminated against Muslims.
The ministry issued a press statement the same day claiming that the document Sharma relied on for his report was “fabricated” and that the report was “clearly aimed at causing chasm between different sections of society and promoting disharmony and mistrust with ulterior motives”.
In an email received by SabrangIndia, Dr Khan maintains that though the publication stood by the report it was “all-along ready to publish a rejoinder, statement or clarification should the ministry send it to us.” The ministry, however, chose to file a police complaint.
“As a result, the journalist (Pushp Sharma), who wrote that story, was mercilessly interrogated for days and later arrested and jailed for around two weeks. Now he is out on bail while the case takes its normal slow course in courts”.
While the case against Sharma follows its own course, Dr Khan alleges that the Press Council and the Delhi police are out to get the publication itself. The show cause notice issued to The Milli Gazette by the Delhi police is a step towards the declaration of the publication as illegal.
Set up by the Indian Parliament in 1966, the Press Council of India is a regulatory body with the power to censure a publication at worst. The Council’s suo motu action against The Milli Gazette, Dr Khan alleges is “unprecedented” as “an authority supposedly created to protect the freedom of press, was in fact throttling that same cherished freedom”.
Here is the full text of the email sent out by Dr Khan:
During the 17 years of our existence, TheMilli Gazette has faced many threats and challenges. I myself have received numerous death threats. MG’s continued losses, dwindling subscriptions due to our own website and a disinterest by the community too have been our problems which forced us twice to think of closing down MG though on second and third thoughts we refrained from taking such a drastic step knowing very well that, however feeble, our community needs this voice in English more than at any time in the past and this voice mattered not only in India but across the world.
Now, since March 12 this year, we are facing an existential threat from the Modi government following our publication of a report on discrimination against Muslims in the Ayush ministry recruitments based on an RTI reply which the said ministry denied.
It could have sent a rejoinder or, at worst, could have complained to the concerned regulatory authority, the Press Council of India in case we refused to publish its rejoinder. We were all-along ready to publish a rejoinder, statement or clarification should the ministry send it to us. Instead, it chose to file a police complaint.
As a result, the journalist (Pushp Sharma), who wrote that story, was mercilessly interrogated for days and later arrested and jailed for around two weeks. Now he is out on bail while the case takes its normal slow course in courts.
Soon, on April 21, the Press Council of India took suo motu cognisance and opened a case against TheMilli Gazette. This action was unprecedented as an authority supposedly created to protect the freedom of press, was in fact throttling that same cherished freedom. We have replied to PCI’s letter and the case continues. Our next hearing at the PCI is on July 12.
A third bolt came from the Delhi police (directly controlled by the Union home ministry) when DCP Licensing wrote to us on May 30 as to why our newspaper declaration should not be cancelled. Cancellation of the declaration means the newspaper will become illegal. We replied without fail to this show-cause notice and are still waiting for further clarifications from the DCP Licensing despite the passage of over three weeks on our hand-delivered reply.
All these drastic steps were taken to deal with an ordinary report which could have been tackled through a press statement like the one CBI issued on 15 June this year describing a Times of India report about CBI’s soft-pedalling over the Vyapam scandal. The CBI issued a press statement the same day saying the report is “speculative & presumptuous and hence, is strongly denied.” Strong words indeed, but we are not aware if CBI, PCI or DCP Licensing have sprung into action against the Times of India. Do we have two standards: one for small publications and another for big giants?
This three-pronged attack on MG simply shows the desperation of the Modi government to silence this little nagging bird. We are fighting and will continue to fight against this injustice through all legal venues open to us. But should the Modi government succeed in silencing this feeble voice, we will call it a day and will leave it to history to remember this as yet another colossal injustice to the freedom of Press the like of which was inflicted by the colonial rulers on Maulana Azad’s Al-Balagh and Muhammad Ali’s Hamdard and Comrade.
A candlelight vigil held in memory of software professional S. Swathi in Chennai. Photo: K. Pichumani
Five days after Swathi, an Infosys employee was brutally murdered at Chennai’s Nungambakkam station, her sister Nithya, has written an open letter to counter false claims and dispel rumours about Swathi that are doing the rounds on social media. On June 24, Swathi, an Infosys employee was brutally murdered at Chennai’s bustling Nungambakkam station, four days later no arrests have been made.
Here is the full text of the open letter by Swathi's sister: “Well, I know, I can’t clear or clarify all the speculations raised against Swathi. As her elder sister, I thought I will share some facts about her. She was such a childish, soft-spoken, God fearing, semi-traditional, bubbly and poised girl.
“She did not step out of the house without reading Sundharakandam, Thadipanjagam and putting Acharyan archadhai in her head (sacred rice). While commuting to the office by train, she regularly listened to Vishnu Sahasaranamam.
“As her office is on the way to Singaperumal temple, she often visited Narasimhar temple and also our Acharya Mudaliandan Swamigal in Thirumaligai. While returning home she didn't fail to visit Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Choolaimedu.
“Born in Srirangam and raised in Chennai as per the Iyengar traditional values and beliefs, and as a family, we love travelling and have visited many temples, without compromising on tourists’ spots. The last trip with her was to Masinagudi where we got lost in the middle of wilderness and nature.
“She loved nature and had done a couple of treks including one to Mukurthi peak. She was very attached to the family, both direct and extended. Her friend’s circle was very limited and didn’t entertain any unnecessary drama.
“Having said this, it is really shocking to see the speculation about her. I also request public not to create any new posts in her name or for her as it might add to the existing speculation and confusion with regard to the case. “It would be great if people can stop speculating and start praying for her. All I request is for a permanent solution for such unfortunate incidents to prevent them from recurring. Let us not unnecessarily tarnish the image and the character of the unfortunate departed soul. Let us not allow the #spiritofchennai to die.
“For some unknown reason, no one came to her rescue, but let this pass. Going forward, let us take an oath in our own little way to help one another. Also, I want to remind the public that it isn’t only the responsibility of the government or the officials’ duties to safeguard the country and the citizens.
“It is everyone's responsibility to take care of ourselves, others and the country. Together we can achieve a lot. I am very sure this incident is going to bring a change in each of us. Proud to be an Indian and always love Chennai. Jai Hind.”
This report stated: Many anti-social elements also use the stations at night, posing a threat to travellers. Days after a 24-year-old woman was hacked to death in broad daylight at the Nungambakkam railway station, The News Minute decided to do a reality check of Chennai’s public transport system. We chose to ride the MRTS line at 8 pm on Tuesday.
Despite being only 20-years-old and having amenities such as escalators and lifts in several stations, the patronage for the MRTS is low. Unlike Chennai’s suburban railways, which have a million commuters every day, India’s first elevated line sees an average of only one lakh riders.
We decided to start at the Indira Nagar station. Located along the IT corridor, the station is one stop away from Tidel Park. People hovered at the entrance to the station, taking shelter from the rain. What struck me as I entered the station was the sheer size of the station, which was built for bigger crowds. There were no queues at the ticket counter.
On purchasing the tickets, we headed to the mezzanine floor, vast and empty, serving no purpose.
The two platforms had a handful of commuters at around 8 pm, who were heading home after a long day at work. A lone security personnel manned one corner of one platform. He was responsible for keeping watch of the other platform too. My colleague Pheba, who regularly uses the MRTS, noted that the policeman on duty appeared to be a new security measure, perhaps, in the wake of the recent murder.
From Indira Nagar, we took the train to Kotturpuram. We got into the general compartment. There was no security present. While many seats on the coach were occupied, the train was far from running full.
At Kottupuram, we made our way down to station. Much like Indira Nagar, this station too was deserted. Like many other stations, Kottupuram has two entrances/exits. In a move to monitor crowds, there were plans to have single entry and exit points. But this remains only on paper. There are no security personnel at the station, barring the platform. None of the stations have CCTV cameras or metal detectors.
After dark, many destitute people use the stations to sleep in. What’s more worrying is that many anti-social elements also use the stations at night, posing a threat to travellers.
The next stop was Chepauk, near the MA Chidambaram cricket stadium. Although there were definitely more people, the station itself was a picture of neglect. Escalators weren’t functional; tiles were dug up from the floors, large steel columns lay haphazardly inside the station. Water pooled around Chepauk station, as the leaky roof incessantly dripped rain water.
Like Kotturpuram, there were people asleep inside the station and the platform. But unlike the other stations we visited, the lone policeman was missing.
Pheba and I took the ladies coach on our way back. There was no police personnel in the compartment we boarded. There were helpline numbers for the Railway Protection Force and the state’s Government Railway Police in both the general and ladies coaches.
I chose to get down at Light House, while Pheba travelled on. The station was relatively crowded. But they were not commuters. Homeless and poor, many men and women were calling it a night at the Light House station.
After scoping out both exits, I chose, what I believed was, the safer route. The parking lots, dark and dingy, had camps of men. Dim streetlights lined the access route to the main road, located about a kilometre away. As I walked alone in the rain, I suddenly became aware of the many eyes watching me. Choosing to ignore, the inebriated catcall from a passerby, I made way out of the MRTS station and prayed I would find an autorikshaw at the earliest.
The media had also reported how people present at the station during and after the murder were mere spectators and many chose to board the next train and carry on with their business as usual.What haunts K Santhanagopalakrishnan the most is that when his 24-year-old daughter Swathi was lying on a railway platform bleeding to death, literally no one helped.
“Even if a crow is dead, the corpse is surrounded by hundreds of other crows,” said the grieving father in an interview to India Today. “If something is happening to a common man, we should not be mute spectators. This should be the last of such an incident,” he added.
Santhanagopalakrishnan also expressed his helplessness and disbelief when he wondered if his daughter could have been alive had bystanders done something to help her. “I don’t know if it was due to aversion or selfishness, they allowed the attack to happen,” he told NDTV.
In addition to losing his daughter, Santhanagopalakrishnan now fears for the safety of the rest of his family. “My family is afraid to go out,” he said as the crime happened not at an isolated place, but a busy one.
While the media scrutiny on the case has heightened the pressure on the authorities to nab the culprits, much to Santhanagopalakrishnan’s dismay, the limelight extended to his daughter’s personal life as well. Even in the hour of mourning, the techie’s father has made an appeal to not bring caste or communal colour where it is not required.
“As we talk of women’s liberation, women’s safety has to be prioritized. This type of incident should be the last one and should not be repeated. The body was lying for two hours without getting any medical attention. Even a cloth was not put over the body,” he told India Today.
Meanwhile, the police are also exploring the stalker angle with many reports suggesting that Swathi was being followed by a man for about two months. However, Santhanagopalakrishnan seemed unaware about the aspect. He said that there was only “one stray incident of stalking in May (10th May) when one guy was following her and she also spoke about the same. Otherwise my daughter never spoke about any stalker”.
Chennai techie’s murder does not call for rabid speculation on religion and caste We don’t know who the killer was. He could be from any religion, any caste. We don’t know who the killer was. He could be from any religion, any caste.
Two days after the brutal murder of Chennai Infosys employee S Swathi in Chennai, an obscure Hindu right-wing website put out an article with the headline “Chennai- Brutal ISIS Style Cut Throat Murder of Infosys Girl, to terrorize other Love Jihad Victims?” The report, with no supporting evidence claimed the murder was a case of ‘Love Jihad'.
Such reports are usually relegated to the dustbin, for their rabid communalism and rumour-mongering is all too evident. But not this time. Hours after this article went up, Hindu right-wing sympathizers went ballistic online, sharing it massively with their own conspiracy theories.
The report, replete with references to Love Jihad, Hindu self-victimization and self-loathing, then led to many other Hindu right-wing websites putting out their own spin-offs with headlines like "Is Infosys Swathi actually murdered by a Jilted Love Jihadi?". In the Hindu right-wing world, it was now an established fact that it was a Muslim who had murdered her, and since she was a Brahmin, no one in the Dravidian Tamil Nadu cared for her.
The extent of the misplaced beliefs was evident when Y Gee Mahendra, a popular comedian from the Brahmin elite high table put out a Whatsapp forward as a post on Facebook, of which the rough Tamil translation is as follows. The WhatsApp forward is apparently based on some online snooping on Swathi’s Facebook profile and unverified initial reports on suspects.
“Brahmin girl Swathi was killed by animal **** In Tamil Nadu, there is almost complete silence everywhere about it. No one is ready to condemn. If Swathi was a Dalit girl, Rahul (Gandhi) would have come fast. Media’s focus will be on it for 24 hours. Dalit Association might protest against it. Dravidian Political parties also might participate in this. Comrades and Woman Associations also would be in field for struggle. What we should do? The girl who died was a Brahmin. By doing politics over this girl there will not get any political benefit. When will viewing caste of a dead person ever end? God, how you are going to change this Tamil Nadu?”
Apart from the completely unfounded claim that it was a Muslim who killed her, what strikes is the irony of calling out to her caste, and then lamenting about the culture of identifying victims with their caste. What was also gaining currency is that this story is getting no traction in the media. At The News Minute, this has been our top story since the morning of the murder, and it has been on the front-pages of newspapers and national channels. That there has not been enough coverage is demonstrably false.
And once that claim started ringing untrue, many started asking – why are you not talking about the murderer, is it because he was a Muslim? All this while even the Chennai police is clueless as to who the killer is.
Meanwhile, Brahmin associations have jumped in. Members of the Andhanar Munetra Kazhagam met her parents and duly invited the media to cover the meeting. They also put out a release later, stating how “an innocent theistic Brahmin girl was unjustly killed by an unknown person” and that the state government must ensure the safety of Brahmin women, but ironically added for good measure that people should not talk about the caste and religion of the death.
This morning, DMK leader MK Stalin visited the family. To be sure, the Brahmin community is a minority in TN numerically, and do not have any political power as such. The middle-classes are justified in feeling insecure as a community in Tamil Nadu. But why is there a reflex to blame another community, and play victim by misrepresentation?
We don’t know who the killer was, he could have been anyone, but the police for now have no clue about the identity of the killer. But the present political climate in the country and the history of Tamil Nadu politics make it very easy for Hindu Brahmins to point fingers at the Muslims, and feel victimized in Tamil Nadu.
It is certainly true that the middle-class outrage over the case has brought much attention this case. On Monday morning, the Madras HC intervened in the case and asked the police to get their act together. Yet, it would be wrong to say that the fears of the community are unjustified. But in twisting facts and creating communal rumours, the community is treading a problematic path. Till the police confirms who the suspect is, speculation about his identity will only further muddy the waters.
Update: Y Gee Mahendra has put out a clarification on his Facebook wall for his post, which ironically only proves that such speculations are not driven by reason, and are rather reckless.
"LET ME CLEAR THE AIR ..THE POST ABOUT TRAGIC MURDER OF SWATHI IN TAMIL CAME TO ME AND I SHARED IT WITH ALL BECAUSE I FELT AT THAT POINT THAT ENOUGH FUSS WAS NOT BEING MADE ABOUT IT AS IN OTHER SIMILAR CASES. ..ONLY NOW THE PROTESTS HAVE PICKED UP….
THIS POST WAS NOT CREATED BY ME.(I DONT EVEN HAVE TAMIL FONT) I ONLY AGREED WITH ITS CONTENT ON THAT ONE POINT. IF I HAD ORIGINATED IT I WD HAVE HAD THE GUTS TO STAND BY IT. I HAVE DONE SO BOLDLY ON PREV OCCASION
BELIEVING THIS OR NOT IS THE READER'S CHOICE. BUT THIS IS THE FACT"
Interview with D. Raghunanda A Golden Raspberry Award or Razzie has been awarded in Hollywood every year since 1981 to the film declared to be the worst movie of the year just a day before the Oscars. If there were a Razzie for the worst public policy in India in the recent past, it would certainly go to the Modi government’s announcement of opening up the defence manufacturing sector to 100% FDI with relaxed norms. Even as muddle-headed policies go, it cannot get worse than this.
The government has recently opened up defence production to 100 % foreign investment, with dilution in conditions those were the pivotal to this policy. The government, in the new rules, have amended the earlier condition of “state of the art” with “modern”, a move that would leave a lot of scope for interpretations.
Newsclick spoke to D Raghunandan, Defense Analyst, to know the nuances of this policy and its potential implications.
