NE TV stands by report on Gogoi-ULFA deal
>From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 1 Undeterred by threats from outlawed ULFA and defamation
suit by Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, NE TV today said it is going to stick to
its stand and continue with its operations in the region. The war of words
between the news channel and the Chief Minister continued, with chairperson of
NE Television Networks Private Limited, Manoranjana Sinh today taking up the
cudgel on behalf of a section of senior mediamen who were threatened by the
rebel group yesterday.
The militant group had given the channel one months time to prove its story or
down its shutter in Asom, besides hitting out at two editors and another senior
journalist.
Hurling choicest abuses at the Chief Minister for castigating the channel, the
chairperson said there was no question of withdrawing the report. I stand by
my report, she said, addressing newsmen here today.
The story of a secret deal between Tarun Gogoi Government and ULFA ahead of the
33rd National Games had provoked the Chief Minister to threaten a lawsuit
against the news channel.
Today, the chief of the TV network channel, the regions first satellite
private channel, went a step further and alleged that Gogoi is using ULFA to
settle scores and the militant outfit was being guided by the Chief Minister.
She claimed that the Chief Minister was nursing a grouse because of a series of
exposes done by the channel.
She further alleged that the deal, which is the centre of controversy was
struck in Kolkata and a big corporate group was involved. She then alleged that
several State Congress Ministers including State Health Minister, Himanta Biswa
Sarma have a nexus with ULFA. One of the Ministers still has a TADA case
pending against him, she charged.
Singh also questioned ULFA for singling out NE TV, pointing out that the
particular story was carried by several local dailies in greater details. Then
why single out NE TV, she asked.
The chief of the news channel said, she has not asked for security cover, but
was worried about 250 journalists, who work for the State. She further added
that the threat from ULFA has been taken seriously.
Taking the fight right into the heart of Congress party, the channel has shot
off letters to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson, Sonia
Gandhi, besides Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, National Security Adviser,
MK Narayanan and Union Home Secretary, VK Duggal.
But she claimed that there has been no action from the Central Government. Not
even a hawaldar was sent to verify whether the threats were genuine, she
claimed.
The chairperson also came in for defence of her husband and former Union
Minister of State, Matang Sinh, saying that his name was dragged into the
controversy unnecessarily and he has nothing to do with the channel.
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