Rajdeep Sardesai taken off-air for two weeks
Chandigarh, January 29, 2021:
The consulting editor of the India Today Group, Rajdeep Sardesai was taken off-air by his own channel for spreading fake news on republic day tractor march violence.
Indian Express has reported that India Today Group has taken him off-air two weeks in this connection and his salary was also cut for a month.
The reports are coming that Sardesai has quit the channel and submitted his resignation. However, Sardesai has not confirmed this.
During tractor march violence, Rajdeep shared a news that a farmer, Navneet Singh ws allegedly killed after a bullet of Delhi police hit him. However, later it was found that Singh died after his tractor overturned on the road near ITO.He had deleted the tweet and reported that Navreet Singh was killed in a tractor accident.
Rajdeep has shared the tweet of Editors Guild of India, which condemned the act of police for registering cases against senior journalists for their misreporting on farmers protest.
The tweet reads, "The Editors Guild of India condemns the intimidating manner in which UP and MP police have registered FIRs against senior journalists, for reporting on farmers’ protests in Delhi on Jan 26. EGI finds these FIRs as an attempt to intimidate, harass, and stifle free media."
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also came in support of Sardesai and said she was shocked to see the action being taken against Rajdeep Sardesai. She tweeted, "I am shocked at what is happening to senior journalist @sardesairajdeep
It is also surprising how most in the media are silent on this issue. In our democratic system we must raise our voice. The media is an important pillar of our democracy."
I am shocked at what is happening to senior journalist @sardesairajdeep
It is also surprising how most in the media are silent on this issue. In our democratic system we must raise our voice. The media is an important pillar of our democracy
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 29, 2021