[Reader-list] Complaint against Mid-Day coverage of TISS rape case

[Subuhi Jiwani]

Dear Sarai List,

Apologies for so many emails about the same topic. I forgot to include the Mid-Day article in my last email. 

Here it is.

Subuhi

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/apr/230409-Mumbai-News-TISS-student-rape-case-Vinamra-Soni-blog-nicest-student-blogger.htm


TISS rape accused was the 'nicest guy' in school: Blog
By: A correspondent Date:  2009-04-23 
   
 
Mumbai: 
They may have been accused for raping the
TISS student, but friends of Vinamra Soni (21) and Jaskaran Singh
Bhullar's (20) have not given up on them. A friend of the two has
floated a blog appealing netizens to give Soni and Bhullar a second
chance.   

The blog titled 'They din't do it' (sic) created by
their schoolmate Tarush Agarwal, who studied with the duo in Loyola
School, Jamshedpur, requests the public to hear their side of the story
before passing a judgment.     

In his post, Tarush writes: "I
will continue to write to defend my best friends, for I firmly believe
they could not  commit this heinous crime. I would like to mention,
Jask, apart from being the bearer of the friendliest, nicest, and
cutest guy trophy is also a brother of three adorable sisters and he
respects women."

In an e-mail response to MiD DAY, Agarwal who
is currently in USA, said, "Through this blog, I want people to know
that there could be a different side to the story. I want them to know
that Jaskaran and Vinamra are nice boys, who do regular guy-like
things, but at the same time have a strong influence of Indian
culture." 

Tarush also mentions in the post that Soni and
Bhullar were in a train when they heard of the case being filed and
were consequently asked by their parents to get off the train, wait for
them and then surrender to the police. 



________________________________
From: Subuhi Jiwani <subuhimjiwani at yahoo.com>
To: Shilpa Phadke <phadkeshilpa at gmail.com>; "reader-list at sarai.net" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:54:02 PM
Subject: [Reader-list] Complaint against Mid-Day coverage of TISS rape case

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Subuhi Jiwani 
Date: 2009/4/23
Subject: In response to "TISS rape accused was the 'nicest guy' in school: Blog"
To: mailbag at mid-day.com


Dear Editor,

I
am writing in response to your article "TISS rape accused was the
'nicest guy' in school: Blog" which appeared on page 5 of your
newspaper on April 23, 2009. It seems immaterial whether Jaskaran
Bhullar, one of six the accused in a gang rape case, was the 'nicest
guy in school' or whether he 'respected women'. Such character
affirmations only tilt public opinion in the favour of the six accused.
This is especially so since the other accused in the case, Vinamra
Soni, whose 'good character' is also vouched for by the writer of the
blog, has publicly cast aspersions on the victim. 

Besides, why is so much space being given to the blog posts of
Tarush Agarwal, the best friend of the two accused mentioned above? Why
are his opinions being deemed newsworthy? Agarwal has also been quoted
as saying that Jaskaran and Vinamra "do regular guy-like things but at
the same time have a strong influence of Indian culture". It is clear
from this comment that Indian culture is supposed to imply good,
upright behavior and it is insinuated that those who are not Indian,
the victim in this case, may be loose, forward and not upright. I find
this kind of reporting terribly biased and one-sided and am shocked
that you would publish it. 

Subuhi Jiwani
Andheri  


      
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