As CBI Goes After Sisodia, NYT Caught in Middle of Slugfest Reacts Strongly To Charges of Being Paid For Front Page Story
NEW DELHI, (IANS) – Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on August 19 said the CBI raid at Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s residence was the result of their good performance, which was being appreciated globally, but the Centre sent the probe agency to his house.
“The same day when America’s most reputed newspaper NYT has lauded Delhi’s model and has published Manish Sisodia’s photo on the front page, the Centre has sent the CBI to his residence. We welcome CBI and will cooperate in the probe.” said Kejriwal in his tweet in Hindi.
In a subsequent tweet, he said that Delhi’s model of health and education were being discussed across the world and ‘they want to stop it’. “The whole world is talking about Delhi’s model of health and education. They want to stop this. That’s why Delhi’s health and education ministers are being raided and arrested. In 75 years, whoever did good work, was stopped. That is why India remained behind. But we will not stop the good work being done in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
Earlier, shortly before the raids began, Kejriwal shared The New York Times front page article featuring Delhi’s Education model and Manish Sisodia. Kejriwal said that he is the best education minister in Independent India.
“Delhi has made India proud. Delhi model is on the front page of the biggest newspaper of the US. Manish Sisodia is the best education minister of independent India,” said Kejriwal sharing the NYT article.
Shortly after that Delhi BJP launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party claiming the article a paid news. Sharing the paper cutting of two different newspapers, The New York Times and Khaleej Times, Delhi BJP leaders raised questions how the same article with the same photo by the same author can be published in two different papers.
Former Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari said AAP is misusing Delhi people’s money to get the photo and story published.
The New York Times issued a strong response making it clear that its front-page article on the politician’s transformation of Delhi’s healthcare system and government schools was completely unbiased. “Our report about efforts to improve Delhi’s education system is based on impartial, on-the-ground reporting, and education is an issue that The New York Times has covered over many years. Journalism from The New York Times is always independent, free from political or advertiser influence,” said Nicole Tylor, a spokesperson for the newspaper, to NDTV.
