Click to play videoNew Delhi: A bandh has been called for in Darjeeling on Saturday after fans of Indian Idol Prashant Tamang went on rampage in Siliguri.
They claim that they were upset with alleged derogatory comments made by a Delhi based radio jockey, but the real picture seems to be one of local vandalism. Now the West Bengal Chief Minister has called for action against the radio channel.
At least eight people were injured in clashes between fans of Tamang, who was recently crowned the winner of the third edition of Indian Idol, and a group of locals in West Bengal's Siliguri district.
About 5000 fans were carrying out a rally to protest against the alleged derogatory comments made against Tamang by the radio jockey.
The protesters entered into a scuffle with some patients and their relatives at the Siliguri District Hospital while on their way to lodge a complaint to the district administration.
The protesters have demanded that the FM broadcaster be arrested immediately and brought to Darjeeling hills for a trial within three days, failing which the Gorkhas would take ‘appropriate’ measures.
A curfew has also been imposed in the Siliguri sub-division. The West Bengal government has said that it will take legal action against the concerned FM station and the radio jockey.
The issue was discussed on CNN-IBN’s Face The Nation and on the panel were Outlook Editor-in-Chief Vinod Mehta, famous lyricist Javed Akhtar and Aakash from Red FM.
What is your reaction when you see people linking what’s been happening over the last few days to an identity crisis, which has often been raising subject in the hills of Darjeeling?
Responding to the question Mehta said, ”I think this is most unfortunate and I think these radio jockeys must be very careful about what they say. I think these guys must be very careful about what they say.”
But then how do you explain all the other references, which are often made for example against the Sikh community? There are several radio jockeys and several television anchors who, in their attempts to be funny sometimes, end up crossing that thin red line.
“I am a great believer in sense of humor. But these are very subjective things and when it comes to matters of faith and religion I think you have to use your common sense. You have to be careful about these things,” Mehta added.
Responding to the panel and talking about people’s reaction Aakash said, “As a business of radio station we are in the business of providing joy and happiness to all our listeners. So we are in the business of providing entertainment. From our standpoint what Nitin said was an innocuous statement, which has been used in different meanings.”
“While we do have a very strict check on our content but what we said on Indian Idol was very topical at that time, and we kind of wanted to bring some humour to this entire thing. What Nitin said was as simple statement but it was blown out of proportion,” he added.
But then why did the radio station decide to apologise, surely on one hand if it’s apologising then it’s admitting in someway that may be radio station ended exceeding its limit.
“What happens on radio is very topical. So whatever you say on the channel immediately get reactions. Some people came to us saying that they were hurt by some of the statements made by our jockey. So we thought let us address those people and what they are saying. So we immediately got back and said although it was not our intention at all it was some kind of misinterpretation but if they felt hurt we apologised because we are in business of making people happy,” Aakash clarified.
Is this just about local vandalism or is there something more to it?
Strongly reacting to the incident Javed Akhtar said, “What I feel a very irresponsible statement was made and it should not have been. It was said in extreme poor taste. This will not outrage only people of Siliguri or Darjeeling but it will outrage any Indian or any decent person. I want to tell people of Siliguri, Darjeeling and all those cities that you are not the only one who are hurt. Prashant has won because he has been voted by the majority of Indians.”
“Seven crore votes have not come from one state. The votes have come from different parts of India. So an average Indian music lover has preferred Prashant and voted for him. So if so many people are with him, loved him appreciated him why should we give importance to one irresponsible idiotic person who cannot control his word, who does not know what is he talking about. I think we should ignore him, “ he explained.
When one sees instances of violence erupting on the streets of Siliguri and across state of West Bengal there have been several protests, do you think this could very well develop into a political crisis of sorts.
Mehta added, “We have enough problems in this country. But when I come back to my original point that you have enormous responsibility in radio and television and you have to be very careful about words used. Nobody is asking these people not be funny but they shouldn’t be irresponsible they shouldn’t be offensive. There should be a line between humor and offence.”
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