NEW DELHI, Aug 19: In a strong rebuff to the BJP’s insinuation that the article on the Delhi education model in the New York Times was a “paid news” by the Aam Aadmi Party, the newspaper has clarified that the article was based on “on the ground reporting” and was not a “paid news.”
In a massive showdown over raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence and is subsequent filling of an FIR against 15 persons alleging corruption in the new excise policy, the BJP had claimed that the New York Times article featuring Sisodia which was published on Thursday was a “paid news.”
Reacting to the insinuation, the New York Times told an Indian media house that the article was “not an advertisement or paid for in any way” and is based on on-the-ground reporting. “Our report about efforts to improve Delhi’s education system is based on impartial, on-the-ground reporting, and education is an issue that The New York Times has covered over many years. Journalism from The New York Times is always independent, free from political or advertiser influence. Other news outlets routinely license and republish our coverage,” the newspaper said in a statement.
Its reference was to re-production of the same article in Khaleej Times giving due credit to the NYT for the write-up. The article came into focus as AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal linked the CBI raids on Sisodia to the Centre resenting high praise for the minister’s education model. In a way, Kejriwal said Sisodia has been declared as the best education minister in the world. “The biggest newspaper wrote about Delhi’s education revolution and carried Sisodia’s photograph also,” he said, adding that the last time India’s name featured in NYT was over mass deaths due to Covid.
“But a day later, CBI arrived at his home. There will be many obstacles, but our work will not stop. CBI has orders from above to target us. Let it do its job,” he declared. The BJP accused AAP of paying The New York Times to spotlight Sisodia. A leader said the “same” article had been printed in the Khaleej Times.
Addressing the media, BJP leader Parvesh Varma held up the New York Times and the Khaleej Times and said: “This is a photo of both the newspapers. Both the newspapers have one reporter, the article is the same, word-to-word, the same six pictures are in both. Does that ever happen?” Many BJP leaders reinforced the allegation through their tweets.
AAP hit back, pointing out that the Khaleej Times article is syndicated and credits the New York Times. “They are lying on national TV! The New York Times piece credits their staff (Karandeep Singh). In the Khaleej Times, it is written below the article – courtesy New York Times,” AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
(Manas Dasgupta)