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SENA STEALTH: CCTV cameras at IBN
Lokmat's office in Mumbai catch Shiv Sainiks creeping in.
(Photo:
ibnlive.com) |
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Malegaon: Goons reportedly
belonging to Shiv Sena (SS) - the right wing Hindu party in
Maharashtra - ransacked the IBN-CNN office in Mumbai today
afternoon. Barging in the IBN's Mumbai office and smashing the
furniture, glass windows and computers, the goons also tried to
attack senior journalist and IBN Marathi's Editor Nikhil Wagale.
According to the CNN-IBN, some 10-15 goons shouting slogans praising
Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray entered the IBN Network's
Vikhroli office in Mumbai, ransacked the furniture, computers and
cameras, and tried to manhandle IBN Marathi's News Editor Nikhil
Wagale.
The
goons, CNN-IBN says, were shouting slogans Balasaheb Ka Apman
Berdasht Nahi Karenge... (Insult to Balasaheb Thackeray would
not be tolerated) and barged in the IBN Network's Marathi channel
office in Mumbai suburbs. By the time the police came, the goons had
smashed the computers, cameras and dashed the glass windows.
The
office staff caught five of the attackers and handed them to the
police who arrived some half an hour after the incident occurred.
A little
after the attack reportedly by the Shiv Sainiks on IBN Mumbai
office, goons also attacked IBN Network's Pune office. In Pune, they
damaged the OB van belonging to IBN. Police has taken eight people
into its custody, says the CNN-IBN.
The
attack is the result of, the CNN-IBN says, the channel's reporting
against the Shiv Sena's dirty politics that divides the people on
communal and regional lines. Sena Chief Bal Thackeray - known for
his rhetoric against the Muslims and indulging in divisive politics
- has in the past even praised the Shiv Sainiks
- as his cadres are called as - for demolishing Babri Masjid and
staging the riots in Mumbai thereafter. Occasionally, he has
advocated formation of 'Hindu Suicide Squad ' to counter, what he
called, the 'Jihadi Terrorists'.
Recently, he received flaks
and condemnations from all across the country after he published an
article against Indian cricket ace Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin
Tendulkar's only fault was, he had said, Mumbai is for all and every
Indian has a right to stay everywhere including Mumbai.
The
incident that occurred today afternoon at around 04:15 has stunned
the media houses and press fraternities throughout the country.
Condemning today's attack on IBN Networks Mumbai office, Pankaj
Pachori - MD NDTV India and Vice-President Broadcasters Association
- termed the day as the blackest day for the media in India.
"People
like Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackeray think that by indulging in such
acts they would force the media to toe their lines. It will never
happen", he said.
Pankaj
Pachori suggested that these political parties should be banned from
contesting the elections for they are staging such things to get
political mileage.
"The
time has come for us to approach the Election Commission to demand
for cancellation of such parties' registration", he said.
Qamar
Waheed Naqvi - News Editor Aajtak while condemning the attack
on IBN office reportedly by the Shiv Sainiks lashed at the state
government.
"It
seems the state government is hand-in-glove with these outfits. If
not, why these people are doing the same thing again and again, and
never ever any action is taken against them?", he asked.
The
attack on IBN office received the condemnations from India TV MD
Vinod Kapdi also.
"It is
strange that Shiv Sena chief himself uses a language in his
newspaper which no sane person would like to use in private
conversations. However, the same man is not ready to tolerate the
criticism done in a decent manner against his dirty politics and
individual-bashing", he said before adding, "The time has come for
the government not only in the state but also in the centre to act
against such people."
Meanwhile, the attack reportedly by the Shiv Sainiks is receiving
condemnations from the state government and different political
groups also.
Immediately after the incident, Chief Minister Maharashtra Ashok
Chavan spoke to CNN-IBN, condemned the attack and assured action
against those found guilty.
"No one
can support such actions. There can be differences and difference of
opinions. But this is not the way to prove one's point", Ashok
Chavan said while speaking to CNN-IBN.
The
incident is also condemned by Congress MP Milind Deora, Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP) leader Tarique Anwer and BJP leader Prakash
Javdekar.
Interestingly, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday
admitted his party workers had attacked the IBN offices in Mumbai
and Pune but turned the incident spontaneous.
Raut
said the IBN Network had been critical of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb
Thackeray and that was intolerable to his party. He told the Zee
News channel Shiv Sainiks had attacked IBN offices for allegedly
misquoting Thackeray's editorial on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
"Media
is not God. Criticism of Balasaheb Thackeray will not be tolerated,"
said Raut. "If you target Sena, we will attack. Criticism of Sena is
also criticism of Marathi Manoos."
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