[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]ndian media has ignored an unethical activity of a lady journalist who tried an attempted sting on PayTM India head Vijay Shekhar Sharma for the Congress party. The lady journalist did something questionable; tried to lead the interviewee by trying to create an impression that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was favouring PayTM and the whole demonetization exercise was meant to promote the Chinese money transfer company. Then the conversation magically appeared as part of a Congress Press Conference!
We are now at the midst of being the core platform that our Prime Minister is running.
– Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO PayTM
The lady journalist spoke to Sharma and during the conversation he says “We are now at the midst of being the core platform that our Prime Minister is running.” The clever journalist who unethically recorded the conversation with Sharma transfers this audio clip to her handlers in Congress party. Why is it unethical, you ask? In any interview, the journalist is supposed to preface a recording by saying, “I am recording this conversation…” . Listen to the audio and decide for yourself.
Within a few days – December 15 – Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi conducts a press conference and distributes the edited audio clip to media. Last time we checked, the audio clip is on the Congress website at http://inc.in/resources/press-releases/1274-. Congress party also published the conversation verbatim of the edited audio clip.
Catch News also published the report: http://www.catchnews.com/national-news/audio-clip-captures-paytm-founder-admitting-to-being-at-the-core-of-pm-modi-s-demonetisation-drive-1482161935.html
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]his unprofessional act by a lady journalist and Congress party shows the desperation of Lutyen’s gang to catch Modi at any cost. There was nothing wrong in what Sharma claimed – that PayTM is “at the midst of being the core platform that our Prime Minister is running.” Is this proof to implicate Modi? Congress, AAP and Left leaders allege that Modi is promoting PayTM. Or stretching it further by alleging that some deal was struck between Modi and PayTM… How can such conclusions be drawn based on just one line?
Even though recording a conversation without consent is unethical, journalists sometime do resort to this to break or expose a report of a serious nature. Here the lady journalist gave her private conversation to Congress party. This incident goes to show the lengths to which journalism has stooped down to.
Who is this lady journo? We came to know that she belongs to a reputed business newspaper. We are uploading a transcript of the conversation below – some may recognize the voice by listening to the conversation. The audio clip is on the two links provided above…
Transcript of the conversation
Full Transcript of the Alleged Conversation between PayTM Founder Vijay Shekhar & a Reporter
Vijay Shekhar:… through another guy talking to them.. and the guy actually clearly denies. नहीं हमने उनसे पूछा…They (Hackers) are saying no.. not yet.. तो आपने किससे बात करी है? किस से बात करी है?
Reporter: किसी भी मतलब? They are the ones .. we spoke to them through the id which they had provided.
Vijay Shekhar: And … I am taking the name.. P___ of FactorDaily?
Reporter: हाँ
Vijay Shekhar: क्योंकि उन्होंने भी यही एक पोस्ट करी थी.. की ये क्या क्या है..तो ..
Reporter: Ya Ya
Vijay Shekhar: उन्होंने तो… They actually had a conversation and they said so..
Reporter: Sorry
Vijay Shekhar: आपसे उन्होंने क्या Line बोली है? PayTM is Looted ?
Reporter: Ya .. and .. this should be…yes thats the exact they said..
Vijay Shekhar: I mean.. if i can tag the call with P____.. or you can know..or you can call P____ if you want to.. he says No..We will talk to them and we are trying to .. another way of trying to ask..is it in your (hackers’) plan of cue of things? वो कह रहा है की मैं आगे की बात मैं पूछ भी लेता हूँ extra .. so ऐसा तो नहीं है.. मतलब.. यह तो मतलब.. बड़ा अजीब सा है ! उनको (P___) को तो उन्होंने (Hackers ) ने मना किया है !
Reporter: अब मैं क्या बताऊ विजय ! You know that they are claiming that they are on drugs ..i mean thats why I am calling you right? Its not like that I think … they are saying… this to..
Vijay Shekhar: No No No No No
I will tell you what.. I will tell you what..I understand..
Reporter: हाँ हाँ
Vijay Shekhar: What I can do is.. देखों आप को भी मालूम है की देश में ना Panic सा लगा रखा है… कुछ भी ऐसा काम
And we are right now at the midst of being the core platform that Our Prime Minister is running! Correct?
Reporter: Ya
Vijay Shekhar: So effectively writing anything about us which is not corroborated..is actually taking a pot shot!
Reporter: Yes, thats why I am calling you..so I have your version as well..
Vijay Shekhar: I get that .. and I also want to tell you
Reporter: हाँ
Vijay Shekhar: हमने अपने systems देखें हैं… उसमे कोई भी.. कहते है न ‘irrational behaviour’, ‘traffic’, कुछ ऐसे चीज़े होते है जब आप यह कहते हो.. की ओह हो… This is the time when actually we were facing the attack.. this is the time when we were .. वो हमारी टीम अभी तक figure ही out नहीं कर पाई है !
Can I tell you one thing?
आप ना एक काम करो… I don’t think so that its something to be very proud of “की मैंने पहली बार छापा” .. This they are telling.. and they will tell to everyone else also..
Reporter: Ya
Vijay Shekhar: They can tweet tomorrow.. and they can do it very publically..
Reporter: Hmm
Vijay Shekhar: May I just request that you hold it tomorrow.. if anything is happening tomorrow.. we will get to know..because they will be calling to someone else also..and this is not something to ..
Reporter: You will have to speak to my editor about this.. I can’t.. take this call now that is the problem
Vijay Shekhar: I know.. I get it.. आप मेरे को अपने editor का… क्या ____ बात करना चाहिए या किससे बात करना चाहिए?
Reporter: अभी तो आप ___ से बात करलो
Vijay Shekhar: OK आप मेरे को उसका नंबर दो..
- Supreme Court rejects plea to tally all VVPAT slips with EVM votes; says ‘no going back to paper ballot’ - April 26, 2024
- US report citing human rights violations is deeply biased: India - April 25, 2024
- Kotak Mahindra Bank shares tank 13%. Market Cap erodes by Rs.37,721 cr post-RBI action - April 25, 2024
The only way to avoid future embarrassment to self and others is to record all interviews including social conversations on any issue with any journalist at any time except on a public platform; recording can be done easily with handy gadgets.