Blogger apologies to NDTV
By Shalini Singh

There is much debate and discussion in the Indian Blogosphere about the very public, humiliating apology by an Indian blogger to NDTV.  While NDTV has won the first round, the blogging community is up in arms about losing their previously unchallenged freedom to write about anything and everything.

At the heart of the matter is a blog post titled ‘Shoddy Journalism’ which questioned the Indian media in general and NDTV in particular for their coverage of the terror attacks on Mumbai.

The blogger is Chyetanya Kunte and he describes himself in his blog as “I’m an Indian living in the Netherlands, with my wife and two children. In my day job, I am an Offshore Structures Engineer. This site however is personal, and here, I speak for no one but myself.  I exhibit typical Piscean traits—mildly shy, overtly self-critical, not very social, highly self-conscious, and my planes of thought often indecipherable. I appear arrogant and rude when I am actually the opposite. I’m a dog person. I enjoy watching science fiction films (Back to the Future is my all-time favorite), and I have a predictable taste for music.”

On the other side of the legal battle field is powerful NDTV and its superstar manager and journalist Ms. Barkha Dutt.  Barkha Dutt and her fearless style of journalism have won her millions of admirers.  Barkha is considered a role model by most young journalists.

Blogger Chyetanya Kunte was very agitated about the media coverage of the terror attacks on Taj and Oberoi and felt that the cowardly terrorists picked up intelligence from NDTV reports (and other TV stations as well) on hostages trapped in the hotels.  His blog post pulled no punches and he accused the media of risking lives through careless coverage. 

NDTV lawyers swung into action and asked Blogger Chyetanya Kunte to withdraw his comments or face legal action.

A chastened Chyetanya Kunte has put up this groveling apology on his website.

“
Unconditional Withdrawal of my post "Shoddy Journalism" dated November 27th 2008
Monday, 26 January 2009

I, Chyetanya Kunte, hereby tender an unconditional apology to Ms. Barkha Dutt, Managing Editor, English News, NDTV Limited and to NDTV Limited, for the defamatory statements I made regarding Ms. Barkha Dutt and NDTV Limited, in my post titled "Shoddy Journalism," dated November 27th 2008, on my weblog at www.ckunte.com.

I have come to the conclusion that my post contained untrue and defamatory statements and that I have expressed myself in a disproportional manner. As a result, I have agreed with Ms. Barkha Dutt and NDTV to publish this statement as a means of settlement. I did not have the right nor the factual evidence to accuse Ms. Dutt and NDTV of the acts that I alleged in my weblog.

Consequently, I hereby repudiate and withdraw my post dated November 27, 2008 titled "Shoddy Journalism" and, more specifically, the following allegations / statements made in the post titled "Shoddy Journalism" namely:

A lack of ethics, responsibility and professionalism by Ms. Dutt and NDTV Limited;

That Ms. Dutt and NDTV's reporting at the scene of the Mumbai attacks during November 2008, resulted in jeopardizing the safety and lives of civilians and / or security personnel caught up in and / or involved in defending against the attacks in Mumbai in November 2008;

That Ms. Dutt was responsible for the death of Indian Servicemen during the Kargil Conflict.

In an effort to remedy the damage that my aforementioned weblog post has caused to the reputations of Ms. Dutt and NDTV, I have undertaken to send this apology and withdrawal statement to all the websites that reproduced my post.

I hereby undertake not to repeat the said statements or similar statements against Ms. Dutt or NDTV Limited in the future.

[26.01.09]

Chyetanya Kunte
“