I’m surprised that she’s taken offence, I mean when journalists tear many peoples’ image apart with their words, why are they themselves so sensitive?

“Are we a Free Country?” is a old question. The answer is no.

Thanks for speaking loud on the inappropriate, idiotic and unnecessarily-sensational media coverage on the Mumbai terrorist attack. Our channels like NDTV and Times Now stooped too far below some of those stupid American regional channels during those days. I was particularly frustrated with Arnab Goswamy as well when they violated the police’ plea not to show close live shots and he cribbed even more when live transmission in Mumbai was taken offline.

New generation sensational journalists like Barkha and Arnab are only good to shout for the hypocritical needs of the upper middle class’ and Page 3 people. I haven’t heard them fighting for the common man’s cause anytime. Forget Times Now, it’s all about tabloid kind and yellow journalism but I expected better way of serving news from Prannoy Roy’s channel.

(Once Nalini Singh, the famous journalist of Doordarshan was invited by Barkha on her show. Nalini had criticized the journalism of today’s channels then)

I don’t think that it is due to that word ‘idiot’. When I read that blog I felt as the blogger accusing Mis Burkha Dutt purposefully helping terrorist. This may have provoked NDTV and Mis Bukha Dutt. Many times she had faced more harsh words while anchoring We the People. (I think We The People is over as they stopped their tie with Star) But she never responded to such comments. All elelctronic media including DD was reporting in the same way during Mumbai attack. All were showing the videos of Hemant Karkare. But the blogger only blames Burkha and her channel.

>> Manikandan: The question is what prompted Barkha or NDTV to sue the blogger. Is it just that the blogger called Barkha an idiot? I’ve been called harsher names in my blog in both Malayalam and English languages for my post on the right-wing. It did offend me personally in the beginning, but then I began to give it up. There are way too many people that way, and you cannot go worry about them. So, I, an ordinary person could ignore them, while such a professional journalist couldn’t. Is this the kind of liberals we have in this part of the world? Who easily takes offense on being called an ‘idiot’? I would agree if the blogger had called her a ‘maggot, ugly face’ etc.

Then that point zeroes in that perhaps Barkha’s and NDTV’s issue was not with the word ‘idiot’, but the blogger’s external reference from Wikipedia which accused Barkha of being the reason behind people being killed in Kargil conflict. Now this is not an accusation that the blogger himself had made, but the army personnel had accused the same. So why did not Barkha go sue the army chiefs? Because it is an inflammable territory? And a blogger is just that – a blogger, so becomes an easy target?

These are the reasons that pisses me off.

In this matter I differ with you. I think it will not be good to write what ever one feel on blog. Personal abuses must be eliminated. The particular blog seems to attack Mis Barkha Dutt. It was not only she or her channel reported these things during the days of Mumbai attack. Almost all the national medias followed the same practice. Even one MP from Kerala Mr. Krishnadas was describing about his position in the hotel through Malayalam channels. (Luckily terrorist don’t understand Malayalam. He and his colleague were escaped.:)) Neither the security people nor the media had a clear picture of what was going on inside the hotels and I think it lead to all those blunders.

I do believe that NDTV and Mis Barkha Dutt have the very right to challenge any allegations made against them. The particular blog charges Barkha Dutt’s action as purpose full. To me it seems that the blogger is saying “by her actions Mis Burkha Dutt was purposefully helping the terrorist.” It is objectionable.

I also admire Barkha Dutt for her excellence in reporting and anchoring many talk shows. She was awarded with Padmasree.

With regards.