Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
India

Section of media defaming me: Tharoor

Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 Jan, 2015 11:41 AM
    Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Thursday slammed a section of the media for "going beyond extremes" in generating sensational and voyeuristic reports and "defaming" him day after day.
     
    Tharoor launched his latest book "India Shastra" in Kolkata which includes an essay on "Our Free and Irresponsible Media".
     
    Commenting on the evolution of India media from the "dull, unimaginative" days while he was growing up to the trend of breaking news on 24x7 news television channels, the Congress leader said the transformation has been for the worse.
     
    "We have carried this beyond extremes and I think the advent of 24x7 news television is to blame because there is no question that, that has transformed the nature of the entire Indian press and print media.
     
    "You see a race to the bottom in terms of most sensationalistic, most voyeuristic , most headline grabbing attention report that will get you temporarily get you a TRP or two so that you can crow how many more eyeballs you attracted than the other channel," said Tharoor here.
     
    Going through troubled times in his personal life, the former union minister blamed a section of the media for "defaming him".
     
    Tharoor observed there are too many TV channels and all are fighting the battle for survival of the fittest, the after-effects of which have trickled down to print media, including respectable publications.
     
    "Partly, there is some economic reason but there are too many channels. Many of them are losing money therefore they have to fight the survival of the fittest.
     
    "In the process they have also infected the print media. The publications which used to have a certain respectability feel obliged to write what their readers have already seen as so-called breaking news on TV. The transformation has happened for the worse, for the health of our democracy," he said.
     
    Delhi Police have said Tharoor may be questioned soon in connection with the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.
     
    Pushkar, 52, was found dead in a luxury hotel in Delhi Jan 17, 2014. Police have now said she was poisoned.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    India closely monitoring IS, Al Qaeda activities

    India closely monitoring IS, Al Qaeda activities
    National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in his very first public interaction, Tuesday said the government is "closely monitoring" the activities of...

    India closely monitoring IS, Al Qaeda activities

    Khattar to be Haryana CM; oath taking Sunday

    Khattar to be Haryana CM; oath taking Sunday
    Haryana is all set for a BJP rule for the first time, with Chief Minister-designate Manohar Lal Khattar scheduled to be sworn in Sunday....

    Khattar to be Haryana CM; oath taking Sunday

    Modi gets formal invitation for Saarc summit

    Modi gets formal invitation for Saarc summit
    Foreign Minister of Nepal Mahendra Bahadur Pandey Monday extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate....

    Modi gets formal invitation for Saarc summit

    Guerrilla hideout busted in Jammu and Kashmir

    Guerrilla hideout busted in Jammu and Kashmir
    Security forces Monday busted a guerrilla hideout in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district and seized some arms and ammunition.

    Guerrilla hideout busted in Jammu and Kashmir

    'India must come to terms with its military history'

    'India must come to terms with its military history'
    India, which contributed over four million soldiers during the two World Wars and has fought five sub-continental wars since Independence, must come to...

    'India must come to terms with its military history'

    Modi Magic Once Again: BJP set to rule Haryana, leads in Maharashtra

    Modi Magic Once Again: BJP set to rule Haryana, leads in Maharashtra
    The BJP Sunday said it will form the government in Haryana with early trends indicating it was winning in 48 of the 90 seats. This is the first time that the BJP is likely to come to power in the state on its own.

    Modi Magic Once Again: BJP set to rule Haryana, leads in Maharashtra