The India Today group terminated the employment of Angshukanta Chakraborty, a political editor at DailyO, over a critical tweet. DailyO is a website under the India Today group.
“Promoters turning a blind eye to hate-mongering, fake news spreading news anchors, editors, reporters and writers, or hiring them in the first place, must be tried in courts as hate speech enablers-profiteers. Must be boycotted socially by secular politicians & Industrialists,” Angshukanta had tweeted on February 4.
Promoters turning a blind eye to hate-mongering, fake news spreading news anchors, editors, reporters and writers, or hiring them in the first place, must be tried in courts as hate speech enablers-profiteers. Must be boycotted socially by secular politicians & Industrialists.
— Angiography (@angshukanta) February 4, 2018
According to the Quint, the India Today group asked her to take down the tweet, resign, or face termination.
After Angshukanta refused to delete her tweet, India Today reportedly held two meetings with her to reconsider, after which they gave her the three choices.
“I decided I won’t resign, and I should not own up to any guilt, I don’t think I’m guilty,” she told Scroll.
Employees of the India Today group reportedly received an email on January 3 asking them to add the clause that the views expressed by them were their personal opinions. Angshukanta reportedly also had the clause on her Twitter profile until the time she was fired.
Anchors at channels under India Today have been earlier caught spreading fake news – including those from Mail Today and Aaj Tak. Stories done by the India Today group feature in the ‘Top fake news stories circulated by Indian media in 2017’ by AltNews.
The India Today group said that Angshukanta’s tweet was in violation of their social media policy, but she denied the claim.
“It was in compliance with social media policy, it was not ad hominem, no one was tagged, it was not abusive, and moreover, it was written by someone who makes a living by making political commentary,” she told Scroll.
India Today’s official response said that Angshukanta’s services were terminated “due to breach of editorial conduct."
“Actions contrary to our editorial ethos have no place in our organization,” the response added.
India Today’s move was slammed widely on social media.
the @indiatoday group considered this out of line, sacked this political editor for speaking what any journalist must speak. smacks of their own guilt. https://t.co/ctLZ4dzuQJ
— Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) February 14, 2018
Respect for @angshukanta for standing up against #FakeNews
— Shaant Minhas (@iAmShaant) February 14, 2018
India needs more moral journalist like you.
And @IndiaToday should be boycotted! https://t.co/4ru6ByZMy1
Let's put pressure on all journalists associated with IndiaToday to resign in protest. They cannot single out a journalist for tweeting something as obvious as this #ProtectIndianJournalism#IStandWithAngshukantahttps://t.co/FpdZeqiSh9
— Jahanpanah (@BluPlaneter) February 14, 2018
Why would any news organisation sack a staffer for this tweet in which no names were given? Unless it hit too close to home https://t.co/og78IcqX16
— Sidharth Bhatia (@bombaywallah) February 14, 2018
This tweet might be referring to any of the promoter held news outlets (and pretty much all publications in India are). Wonder why @indiatoday fired this person for writing this? https://t.co/HBlQyqtNX1
— Ravindra (@ravindra_r) February 14, 2018
In solidarity with @angshukanta. Why would you fire here for this tweet @IndiaToday @aroonpurie? Aren't these the ethics you stand for too? https://t.co/FWkAI6jIK0
— Parmesh Shahani (@parmeshs) February 14, 2018
.@angshukanta was fired for this tweet by India Today. The media house seems to petrified at the suggestion of being held accountable for the hate mongering by its anchors. https://t.co/AOeje47U8A
— SamSays (@samjawed65) February 13, 2018