When there is no news what a 24/7 news channel got to do? Of course, they are going to make up the news.
Horror! Horror! A Pakistani flag unfurled in Assam. This was a big news around October 2008. Look carefully and you see that crescent in Pakistani flag is upside down. Another thing you will notice that news channel Times Now is repeating the same visuals over and over again. There is some sword like thing that is in the picture but it is not clear what is it and who is holding it.
The TV Channel offers no information on how they got these “exclusive visuals.†Was it shot by their journalists, who alerted them that this flag is there go and shoot the pictures? If it was not their own camera person then who provided them these visuals, who are these people? How they come across this flag and what are their motive in giving this visual?
Times Now failed to reveal the source but thanks to YouTube now you can see the raw footage without Times Now editing and commentary:
Notice that sword like thing is actually a bow and arrow, a weapon of choice in Assam.
I had to consult an Assam resident for this- the people in video are speaking in Bodo language. They are saying- hold the flag, spread it with the bow so that the flag can be photographed.
Also, in this video you can notice that this seems to be an open area, no village around it except a structure visible at a distance. So we established that video was shot by the Bodos, as far as we can see it there are no Muslims or their houses around, if the Muslim village is behind the camera person then he should have shot that as well to make it more incriminating. Given that Bodo miltants are doing their best to drive Muslims out of their villages their action should be highly suspect and a news organization if given a piece of information from one party, should check and verify it before airing it.
But in this case, there is ample evidence that this flag is a fake, probably set up by the Bodos themselves. Given that Times Now edited the footage tells us that they knew that this video is problematic and therefore they cut it short showing only the flag not the people and removing the audio.
Please contact Times Now and complain:
Mr. M.Vasudev Rao
Authorised officer – Legal Department
Times Global Broadcasting Company Ltd.
Trade House, Kamala Mills compound,
Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel,
Mumbai – 400 013
Phone: (+9122) 24999944
Fax : (+9122) 29440307
Email: legalnow@timesgroup.com
This was one of the most irresponsible news in recent times. The Times Group ought to be sued for this. This is absolutely intolerable.
This is insane..I cannot count the number of blogs who questioned muslims on this incident ‘Muslims flying Pak flag’…Media needs to be regulated and freedom of press should come with accountability.
What now?How many indians read this blog and this news so that thay can get rid of the hate and prejudice developed over this incident.The media,no matter if it is TN or anything else, will not do anything in the regard..Afterall,only if there is division and hate among indians,they can make scoops..the day indians unite and join hand in hand,these channels will pack bag and shut down..They prosper on breeding hate between you and me..Sad that majority doesn’t realize it.
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon all of you)….
Brother Kashif, the news channel Times Now always do that, if we remember the Blast in Assam, after that they started blaming Bangladeshi terrorist and ULFA for the act, they even named many Muslims, they gave the detailed plan of the terrorists as if they where involved in planning. Later the investigation team said that the BODO Army of Assam Militant Group has carried out this barbaric act of terror, after that Times Now changed it stands and started blaming BODO …
The second example can be the war like situation between India and Pakistan after Mumbai Attack, i remember that the for days they showed, that Pakistan is moving troops to Indian border and the air force is doing rounds in the sky and so on. It look like they wanted to a war between both the countries, but Allhumdulila nothing happen, now the Pakistani authority are accepting the fact that, the attack was plan in Pakistan….
The news channels, which do very good work and at times do something so condemnable like the above incident…
Jai Hind
Wassalam….
It is quite dumb of the news channels to come up with their own stories for TRP ratings. I really don’t think most of the Indian Muslims have anything to do with Pakistan.
Most irresponsible. People must protest by not watching the channel. In fact these people must be tried for creating sitution which can result in unrest in the country.
I agree with Mr.Kashif that the E-media creates news in this manner to satisfy their appetite. But I dont think there is any reason to feel tense about the way they try to create communal flare up as we Indians(Aam janata) are far more mature than what they think. Arnab Goswami, Burkha Dutt etc can try as much as they want but they will fail in their attempt in any any case.
shankar