The week started on a sour note. Anjali, a 20-year-old girl, died when she was dragged for nearly 13 km after a car hit her scooty in the early hours of the New Year. And for once, top anchors, from Aaj Tak to Republic, asked tough questions of the Delhi Police. However, on News18, a reporter was sent to probe ‘the party angle’ of the story — what Anjali did in the hours before the accident, who she met in an OYO hotel, and what she smoked or drank. While Arnab Goswami on Republic took a firm stance against attempts at character assassination, his reporter from R Bharat was busy telling viewers whether the victim was drunk and who she was partying with. Meanwhile, Amish Devgan and Aman Chopra maintained studio silence — guess Hindu beti khatre main nahin hai.
Over the week, the demonstrations in Haldwani got primetime attention with the usual suspects calling protesters, mostly Muslim, “jihadi” and “tukde tukde gang”. Times Now Navbharat linked it to Shaheen Bagh. We spoke to the protesters, who have a message for news anchors. Watch the full report here.
Also watch our ground report from Joshimath, where residents are furious and terrified at administrative apathy.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
