ABP News Journalists' Resignation: Congress, AAP Blame Modi Government For Exits, Call it Attack on Freedom of Press
Within two days, ABP News' editorial head Milind Khandekar and anchor Punya Prasun Bajpai have resigned from the channel.
New Delhi, Aug 3: Following the sudden resignations of ABP News' Managing Editor Milind Khandekar and senior anchor Punya Prasoon Bajpai, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday blamed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for the journalists' exit. Punya Prasoon Bajpai quit the ABP News a day after the departure of Milind Khandekar. Outspoken ABP News anchor Abhisar Sharma was reportedly sent on leave as well.
Following the exits of two eminent TV journalists from ABP News, the Congress tweeted, "Evidence is surfacing that ABP News is seeing journalists resign and benched due to their involvement in stories criticising the Central Govt." It also shared a video which, according to the party, shows how the independent media is being suppressed under the Modi regime. Congress's social media communications head Divya Spandana took a dig by saying the channel might as well be renamed ABVP news.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged the Modi government was responsible for the resignations of Milind Khandekar and Punya Prasoon Bajpai. "Free media is life-line of democracy. But Modi government is hell-bent to kill independent media. The resignation of two eminent TV journalists from ABP News in two days is another proof. Media should rise now, otherwise it will be too late," the AAP chief tweeted.
Besides the resignation, the ABP's flagship show, 'Masterstroke' is taken off. Bajpai used to host the prime-time show on the channel. In one of its shows, it had covered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with a Chhattisgarh woman who claimed her agricultural income had doubled after she switched from paddy to 'sitafal' farming.
A report broadcast by Masterstroke later interviewed the same woman, who claimed that officials from Delhi had 'tutored' her before her interaction with the Prime Minister to falsely claim that her income had doubled. As the news spread widely on Twitter, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore slammed the media organisation and questioned its journalistic ethics.
Days later, viewers complained that they were facing difficulties in watching the programme because of 'disturbance and blackouts.'
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 03, 2018 10:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).