Kamiya Mohan Jani/ Nityanand baug
Lights and cameras were on, the seating arrangements were made, the
audience was all geared up, but sadly they did not get a chance to
speak. Is this reason less for a talk show to turn into a fight show?
Sadly, yes, as this is precisely what was witness at the
Nityanand Baug society in Chembur on February 13. A television channel
had invited local residents to discuss their problems with local
politicians in a talk show. Local residents allege that the discussions
went on as planned but only between the politicians, their supporters
and the anchor. “The public view was not taken into consideration. It
was an insult to us. They were just pampering the MLA. They used the
society’s premises but none of us were given a chance to ask any
questions,” complains the Joint Secretary of Nityanand Baug, Vijay
Ahuja.
According to Roma Uttamani, a resident of Nityanand Baug, the
conversation was all about the pollution in Chembur and the gas
fertilizers, which cannot be treated in a short term. “We wanted to
talk about the roads and the water logging but the microphone was just
not passed on to us. We were simply ignored,” she says adding that the
people who got a chance to speak were strangers.
The producer of the show had a tough time tackling the angry
residents of Nityanand Baug. Although the show was planned for 18
minutes, the fight went on for about one and a half hour. The producer
reportedly told residents that they should have snatched the mic. “Why
didn’t you all do that? We cannot pass the mic to everyone,” she
averred.
After the heated argument the television unit stated that they
might conduct this public view talk show again in this week to satisfy
the locals. “If they don’t come this week, we would call some other
channel and badmouth them. All their concern was superficial, they just
wanted to fill up their 18 minute slot,” avers the Joint Secretary of
Nityanand Baug.
Link: http://www.chemburghatkoparplus.com/fullStory.asp?articleID=CGP6ART2192006