Journalists in India woke up to a startling news on Friday. Ajay Singh, Spicejet co-founder and owner picked up a majority stake of 40% in NDTV. The man is also known for playing a significant role in BJP’s 2014 poll campaign and coining the phrase, ‘Abki baar Modi sarkaar’.
Quoting a source, Sandeep Singh of Indian Express reported that the deal had been finalised for Ajay to “take control of NDTV along with editorial rights.”
Though The Hindu reported quoting sources that NDTV had denied news of the sale, #NDTV was already trending on Twitter.
In a scenario where anti-establishment and dissenting voices are deemed to be under threat, many in the media fraternity and otherwise took this to be an ominous development.
Many journalists took to social media to express themselves. Viewpoints ranged from cautionary to calling NDTV’s takeover as a blow to independent media.
Check out a few reactions here:
If the rumour about Ajay Singh of Spicejet buying NDTV is true, I have only three words: Brace, Brace, Brace
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) September 18, 2017
RIP @NDTV. A blow to independent news (already reeling) in India. https://t.co/ysmoMseN6i via @IndianExpress
— Mira Kamdar (@mirakamdar) September 22, 2017
watch this closely, Ajay Singh won't repeat @republic, changes will be understated but ideologically effectivehttps://t.co/Ux3gsXFvEd
— Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) September 22, 2017
#NDTV will stop being a 'commie-congitard-aaptard-liberandu' channel now?
— Meghnad (@Memeghnad) September 22, 2017
It's a good thing Twitter can't be bought.https://t.co/3CZiiJSJ3Q
NDTV takeover is one more step in Modi's effort to control media. But d day voters decide to throw him out,no media can come to his rescue!
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) September 22, 2017
Others also expressed dismay at NDTV being bought over. Many hinted that this would cause a changeover in the channel’s tone to become pro-establishment.
A Voice for freedom of speech would be silenced?Ajay Singh was a key player of the @BJP4India LokSabha-2014 campaign https://t.co/HZHWxCLerJ
— Arjun Modhwadia (@arjunmodhwadia) September 22, 2017
If this is true, we can expect NDTV to go down the rabbit hole of #NewIndia media. https://t.co/2K81oDa1vQ
— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) September 22, 2017
So NDTV will be bought by SpiceJet 's Ajay Singh who happens to be very close to BJP.
— Roshan Rai (@Roshan_Kr_Rai) September 22, 2017
Last wicket of honest journalism down it seems.
Finally @NDTV too succumbed. SpiceJet’s Ajay Singh to take control of NDTV & its editorial rights with 40 % stake.https://t.co/ZHp09cYHFL
— Dr. B. Balagopal (@balunair99) September 22, 2017
After, Ajay Singh take control of #NDTV pic.twitter.com/W7SGJhAhmx
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 22, 2017
Meanwhile, some right-wing sympathisers questioned the reason behind the buy-out considering NDTV’s tax lapses. They also asked if the takeover meant that the government would waive off NDTV’s tax lapses.
With the sale of NDTV to Spice Jet--will all its misdemeanours forgiven by Fin Min? @SreeIyer1 @Swamy39 @sgurumurthy @jgopikrishnan70 RT
— RVAIDYA (@rvaidya2000) September 22, 2017
After threats to shut them down for a day, tax terrorism & raids, NDTV has been softened up… https://t.co/d6F27yAo7P pic.twitter.com/0W4CXMHmyP
— Raja Mitra (@montouche) September 22, 2017
#goodbyeNDTV @PrannoyRoyNDTV must have been threatened via income tax department. He lost @ndtv and saved himself.
— Dr Yasir Nadeem (@Mufti_Yasir) September 22, 2017