तहलका के पूर्व पत्रकार आशीष खेतान गुजरात दंगों के दौरान एक स्टिंग करके चर्चा में आए थे. आशीष के चलते ही बाबू बजरंगी, जयदीप पटेल समेत कई नेता कानून के शिकंजे में आए थे, परन्तु पिछले दिनों आशीष इस मामले में अपनी गवाही से मुकर गए. इस मामले को लेकर दैनिक भास्कर, अहमदाबाद में एक खबर प्रकाशित की. इस खबर से आशीष खेतान नाराज हैं. उन्होंने संपादक अवनीश जैन को पत्र लिखकर अपनी नाराजगी जताई है.
उन्होंने कहा है कि दैनिक भास्कर में प्रकाशित खबर पूर्ण रूप से गलत है. इससे मेरी छवि भी खराब हुर्इ है. खबर देते समय पत्रकारिता के मानकों का भी ख्याल नहीं रखा गया. नीचे खेतान द्वारा भास्कर के संपादक अवनीश जैन को लिखा गया पत्र.
Dear Mr. Jain
The Ahmedabad edition of DainikBhaskar dated February 5 has published a vicious and grossly defamatory article about me and given a factually incorrect and depraved account of my ongoing deposition in the Naroda Gram massacre case. By publishing such scandalous report your newspaper has exhibited a cynical disregard to all acceptable standards of free speech and fair and responsible journalism.
No body from your paper including the author contacted me before publishing this defamatory and factually incorrect piece. Clearly, your paper has also not cross-checked the true account of actual events with the authorities concerned which in this case would be the team of public prosecutors and the officials of Special Investigations Team. It is apparent that the article has been published with a deliberate and malafide intent of defaming me and bringing disrepute to my journalistic career built with many years of hard work and rigorous and honest reporting.
Your article has triggered a vicious vilification campaign against tehelka and me on social media of which I have evidence. The report has already caused immense damage to my reputation and standing in society. My deposition in Naroda Gram is still on and within a week its certified copy would be available in public domain and would expose the absolute and outrageous lies published in your newspaper.
I would urge you to immediately publish an unconditional apology on page 1 of your tomorrow s edition failing which I would be forced to take appropriate legal action against your paper s reckless and libelous reporting. I would also like to remind you that what s also involved here is an ongoing trial in a case of diabolical communal massacre. Dainikbhaskar has thus also committed contempt of court and tried to derail the victims fight for justice.
आशीष खेतान का पत्र तीस्ता सीतलवाड़ के एफबी वॉल से साभार.
