Indian blog apology in US Report
By Shalini Singh

On Jan 30, 2009, I had written about how Indian blogger Chyetanya Kunte had offered a very public apology to media giant NDTV (Article republished below).  Since this happened in 2009, it had slipped out of the consciousness of Indian public.  Mr. Kunte has even deleted his blog. Now, his story has been revived by one of America’s most powerful right wing NGO - Freedom House. 

Freedom House gets most of its budget from the US Government, and like many right wing groups, believes American leadership is essential to human rights and freedom. Freedom House, in its 2011 report on India and other countries brings up the case of Mr. Kunte

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Indian Bloggers are rarely forced by the government or private individuals to take down their writings, but there have been a few instances in which this has occurred.

While online journalists and bloggers are not often required to censor their writing, it is understood that certain topics must be approached with caution. These include religion, communalism, the corporate-government nexus, links between government and organized crime, Kashmiri separatism, hostile rhetoric from Pakistan, and various forms of aggressive, demagogic speech. Such topics are indeed addressed by online writers, but they are handled carefully to avoid inciting violence, particularly by nonstate actors. For example, blogger Chyetanya Kunte criticized NDTV journalist Barkha Dutt for her station’s coverage of the November 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai, accusing her of engaging in sensationalism and irresponsibly airing information about the movements of security forces. Dutt and NDTV threatened to seek punitive measures against Kunte through the courts, and the blogger agreed to remove the critical content.
“

Not many would have heard of Mr. Kunte till the NDTV lawyers contacted him after which he made a very public apology.  This week he gets a mention in a report by one of the most powerful NGO’s in USA.

(Techgoss had published the following on Jan 30, 2009)

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 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
“