Consistently Unprofessional & Biased Reporting in HT Gurgaon

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Gentlemen,

In my years of reporting news (Los Angeles Times, NDTV and Voice of America) and in my journalism training (Stern School, University of New York and LSJ, London) I do not recall journalism mixing with faux urban legend or fostering folk tales. It appears, at The Hindustan Times, Gurgaon, it does. And lately, a little too often.

To get to the point, I draw your attention to and protest against the consistently unprofessional, biased and agenda driven reportage in The Hindustan Times with regards to stray dogs. Over the last two months your paper has carried three reports which reflect incorrect and/or partial perspectives, a twisting of facts and very clear negative agendas in obviously loaded and planted stories. Beginning with false reporting about dogs removed by the MCG in Sun City, to two stories within a fortnight about The Close North, Nirvana Country, Sector 52. All three are false or at best half-truths. Predictably, your reporters have not bothered to ascertain facts, seek objective truth or bothered with elementary homework before churning out malice, creating unfounded panic and promoting animal cruelty which attracts penalties under the law.

Unsurprisingly, the three dogs resident in this community are a target. Since dogs, unfortunately, cannot speak for themselves someone has to speak for them.

1.A look at the MCG correspondence records, talk with the two authorised Gurgaon NGOs (PFA and FRIENDICOES) or police records would reveal that the Close North is a classic case where a bogey is relentlessly trying to foist kangaroo court like vigilante solutions to non-issues. This is a high decibel drama to dislocate and/or kill the three dogs resident in that locality. Of these dogs, one docile dog (Julie) was done away with by the RWA. This issue has been addressed by PFA Gurgaon in part, as well as by law abiding, compassionate residents and largely sorted, pending any further incident which will now attract swift and punitive action individually against RWA office bearers.

2.The dogs are neutered, vaccinated and perfectly socialized, causing no harm/threat to anyone at any point in time. Our interventions have revealed that allegations of their being aggressive are untrue. Not one resident allegedly bitten, can show wounds/scars/medical records. And none of these people will reveal the provocation they cause to animals which may result in aggressive behaviour. Overarchingly, anyone with a shred of common sense cannot believe a situation where “marauding animals” move freely terrorizing the young and old in a colony, while poor, cowering residents scurry for dear life ! This is a thesis for idiots to believe and buy into. And, anyone who has lived in this country knows, and knows experientially, that feral dogs by nature are timid and that ALL animals avoid human contact or confrontation unless severely threatened.

3. It is clear that your reporter has not bothered to visit the colony. Had she (Megha Laroia) done that, she would have discovered that this colony’s boundary walls are in acute disrepair, making it easy not only for feral animals, but also vagrants, petty criminals and just about anyone, to gain ingress/egress at will. Any sensible community would repair this breach instead of pandering to a bunch which has parvenu ideas about living in India.

4.Vijay Kumar, the Sadar Police Station SHO quoted in the story has received an equal number of complaints about false complaints and violations of the law. These are conveniently not mentioned. Nor is the fact that he has tried to cobble amicable solutions which belligerent residents have repeatedly rejected.

5.It is a reflection of this colony that it invited an NGO banned by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which in any case has no business to be in Gurgaon, on the sly. This “NGO” was served notice by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi notice no. 254/55CBC/2011 dated 09.06.2011  It is also rather odd that The Circle of Animal Lovers from Tughlakabad, was invited to lift the dogs, Neither the MCG nor Gurgaon NGOs PFA or FRIENDICOES were contacted. A notice has been sent to this delinquent “NGO” warning it against illegal activities in Gurgaon.

It is indeed unfortunate and sad when a publication of your eminence stoops to dealing in lies and abandons a journalist’s article of faith : scepticism until investigation establishes the whole fact to be presented with objectivity and without hyperbole. Not too much to expect perhaps.

Sincerely,

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