07-March-2016
After Dr. Subhash Chandra’s speech at the 2016 Global Investors Meet in Haryana, he was posed with a question, about the anti-national slogans being raised at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi and its portrayal by Zee News, by a reporter. Pursuant to the question, he said that he will reply to it in a message on Zee News itself and will answer the question of the viewers live from the studio. He expressed his disappointment about the nature of discussion in the country and aobut the blame game being played at different levels.
Subhashji went straight to the Zee News studio where he clarified each doubt and query of the viewers live. He spoke about the perspective he gained by asking people what they wanted to see on news and how that shaped the new direction of Zee News. “Along with compliments we also some criticism for chosing to move in a new direction,” he added. People took jibes at it saying, “Your channel is the mouth piece of Bharatiya Janata Party” to which Subhashji asked, “Just because we have begun showing more positive news, does it make just a BJP channel? We speak about the people of this country and their issues and solutions. The atmosphere had become such that if one spoke for ‘hindustani’he was termed as communal while if you spoke against ‘hindustani’ you were termed as secular. We decided to move away and beyond this notion.” He said then the BJP must celebrate because if Zee News taking a positive turn leads to people considering it to be a BJP channel, means the public mindset has already conceded that whatever progress and work is being done can only be achieved by the BJP.
“I’d like to reitterate that a majority of my friends are from the Congress Party, and when I have conversation with them in private they often concede that if change can happen only PM Narendra Modi can bring it about.” Speaking about the incident that took place in JNU he added that what has happened is adding fuel to the communal fire. Zee News has compiled a list of 50 individuals who are from various fields and schools of thought and they will be shown the video of which the veracity is being questioned desptire being declared undoctored and after watching the video they’d be asked only four questions. Then one can deicide if the statements by Kanhaiyya Kumar and his supporters at JNU are anti-national and should charges be levied on them. The third question is if the plight of the farmer or any other issues plaguing the nation the sole responsibility of the BJP? Who is responsible for this state of affairs? The fourth question is if about the message you’d like to convey to the people of the country.
In a concluding statement, Subhashji urged the 15 crore viewers to speak up.”If you do not speak up, people will continue to suppress us. Often we are targeted in news media and social media, but we should stand up against it.” He also cleared the air and said, “To the BJP members, this is not your channel, nor is it of any other party or group, it is the channel of the people and we will show the truth irrespective of their party.”
