Two media channels have been accused of misleading facts about the instigation of Muzaffarnagar riots by the inquiry committee of Uttar Pradesh Assembly investigating a sting operation on the riots.
According to a report, the seven-member committee headed by SP MLA Satish Kumar Nigam has tabled the report in the Assembly on Tuesday holding several staff members of TV Today Network guilty for breach of privilege of minister Azam Khan.
Panel’s report recommended action against the mediapersons, police and administration officials for their alleged conduct before the sting operation team.
On being asked about the sting operation, Rahul Kanwal, the then managing editor of Headlines Today (now renamed India Today TV) and managing editor of the TV Today network now, said, ‘I will not comment on this. Talk to our legal team’ said report.
The contentious programmes — ‘Operation Danga and Operation Riot for Vote’ — were telecast on Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, respectively, on September 17, 2013. Aaj Tak broadcast Operation Danga Part-2 the following day, the report stated.
The 350-page report has made seven recommendations. The panel authorised the Assembly to take a decision on punishment of the staff, if found guilty.
The journalists are managing editor of Aaj Tak Supriya Prasad, output head Manish Kumar, editor SIT Deepak Sharma, reporters Arun Singh and Harish Sharma, then managing editor of Headlines Today Rahul Kanwal, and anchors Punya Prasun Bajpai, Gaurav Sawant and Padmaja Joshi.
