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Journalist Allegedly Receives Death Threats From DMK Members For Coverage Of Cyclone Michuang

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Journalist Allegedly Receives Death Threats From DMK Members For Coverage Of Cyclone Michuang

Journalist Allegedly Receives Death Threats From DMK Members For His Covering Of Cyclone Michuang (image @ahmedhsabbir20)

After Chennai was hit with flood, another problem that came to fore was the dispute between DMK leaders and a journalist. Shabbir Ahmed is a journalist of The News Minute. He was allegedly threatened by the DMK leaders over his reporting on Chennai flood. The issue is raising serious questions on freedom of press.

In the backdrop of Cyclone Michuang that hit Chennai last week, Mr. Ahmed has been reporting on the impact of the flood in areas like Ennore, Perambur, vyasarpadi, and Pulianthope, which are situated at the north of Chennai.

A news clip showed Mr. Ahmed from the affected place of Mettupalayam from where he was reporting while standing in water lodged up to his waist. People complained about government not looking in to the matter not even for once even after four days. One of the locals said “they (government) are punishing us for voting for them.

Shabbir Ahmed shared several news posts on his X (formerly twitter) handle which he captioned “Disaster or no disaster…the story of #NorthChennai begins with neglect”. The videos showed people complaining about increase in price for basic things and the water logging in the place. They complained about not even one MLA paying visit to the affected area.

While Mr. Ahmed’s effort was greatly appreciated in social media, it did not sit well with the ruling party of Tamil Nadu, DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam). Mr. Ahmed allegedly received death threats from DMK members from X spaces discussion, said media report. 

A fake list of cash was also circulated in social media in the name of bribery allegations against Shabbir Ahmed. The document was proven to be six years old.

Responding to the allegation T R B Rajaa, DMK IT Wing Secretary called out the “mudslinging” and said the “this has been proved to be false already and is absolutely unacceptable”.

Mr. Ahmed said it is good that a stand has been taken to stop the spreading slander and added that, “nothing stops us, not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow”.

The News Minute editor-in-chief Dhanya Rajendran has also responded to Mr Rajaa”s comments.

“I cannot tell you how important this response is. As journalists, we are threatened and harassed. Most of us have learnt to live with it. But to question integrity is vile, something I will not take lying down,” Ms Rajendran said after thanking Mr Rajaa for standing up.

Topics
ahmed shabbir chennai flood DMK journalist Tamil Nadu The News Minute Timeline News

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