Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 2: Managing Editor of ABP News Channel Milind Khandekar has resigned from his post, triggering reactions on social media with many blaming Modi government for pushing him to quit.
Khandekar took to twitter to announce his resignation, “14 years & 8 days later it’s time to move on. Today was my last day as Managing Editor@abpnewstv . Thank you for being part of my journey so far.”
However, this announcement was followed with strong criticism against Modi government. ABP News channel’s flagship programme, Masterstroke had supposedly angered the central government with a recent story and it is alleged that they were deliberately trying to blackout the show during its telecast time 9 pm to 10 pm.
ABP News Channel had run a segment claiming Prime Minister’s interaction with local women in Chhattisgarh was choreographed.
News channels had covered Chandramani Kaushik from Chhattisgarh telling Narendra Modi in an interaction on how she doubled her income by switching from cultivating paddy to custard apple. A few days after the interaction, Masterstroke interviewed Chandramani Kaushik who now said that she falsely claimed that her income had doubled. She further told the channel that she was tutored by officials from Delhi on what she has to speak with Modi.
After ABP ran this report, it received ire from Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyawardhgan Singh Rathore.
Even then, ABP defended its coverage after which many people from different parts of India took to twitter that they are unable to view Masterstroke as the channel is blacked out while the segment is played.
Reacting to Khandekar’s resignation, Journalist Rohini Singh tweeted, “The media in India is facing its BIGGEST existential crisis today. This will be one of the most shameful chapters in the history of Indian journalism.”
Journalist Akash Banerjee tweeted, “So @milindkhandekar finally quits… This is what you call a #Masterstroke by the powers that lord over India…”
Delhi government’s media advisor, Arunoday Prakash tweeted, “@milindkhandekar’s resignation and the recent events say the story is not as simple. 1sta show of ABP News was blocked, then channel was disrupted many times a day. Who was behind it? Who blocked the channel?”
In another tweet he wrote “got the prize of not putting the show Masterstroke off air or what? Are you so scared of a 30-minute show Modiji? Not done. We are living in a democracy sir.”