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. --------------------------------- Have a burning question? Go to Yahoo! Answers and get answers from real people who know.
