In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, an English news channel, Harvest TV, had been launched with senior Congress leader, Kapil Sibal as one of its promoters. Later, Harvest TV was renamed as Tiranga TV, after the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) allowed Sibal’s channel to use the new name and logo without the colours, saffron and green. The channel boasted of some erstwhile big names including Barkha Dutt and Karan Thapar.
However, barely a month after the election results, the channel had reportedly fallen into a crisis. As per reports, there have been several rounds of lay-off at the news channel. The reports added that several journalists had left decent jobs before joining Tiranga TV but now they have been left in a spot of bother after being fired with extra salary for only one month. According to the reports, there have been three rounds of lay-off at the news channel. It has also reported that the retrenched journalists are demanding that they should be paid at least three months extra salary given the market conditions. The portal has also criticized the dictatorial methods of the management at the portal.
The ousted employees of Tiranga TV have also cried foul on the social media portal, Twitter. One of the employees tweeted, “@KapilSibal Ji, We the employees of @NewsHtn (Tiranga TV) are being fired with just 1-month salary and without any clarity. We would want to meet with you as no one from management has addressed us. @INCIndia @RahulGandhi @PrakashJavdekar @IndEditorsGuild @ShekharGupta @BJP4India”
@KapilSibal Ji, We the employees of @NewsHtn (Tiranga TV) are being fired with just 1 month salary and without any clarity. We would want to meet with you as no one from management has addressed us. @INCIndia @RahulGandhi @PrakashJavdekar @IndEditorsGuild @ShekharGupta @BJP4India
— Ravi Anand Pathak (@ErRaviAnand1) July 2, 2019
When the news of the mass lay off employees at the Tiranga TV first came to light, many people on social media questioned Barkha Dutt for her silence on the issue. At that time, Barkha Dutt had tersely replied that she not involved in the management of the company. However, today Barkha Dutt broke her silence and took on Kapil Sibal and his wife for the mass lay offs in a long twitter thread.
An appalling situation in @NewsHtn promoted by @KapilSibal & his wife, where more than 200 employees have had equipment confiscated and face sackings without even a 6 month pay out. Man who acts holier than though in public has treated journalists in a hideous way
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
Barkha Dutt not only pointed out how the network is laying off employees without even due notice period, but also how the employees who were brought on board barely months ago are being summarily dismissed.
Most people here, gave up other offers or left jobs on an assurance from @KapilSibal of a professionally run newsroom and a minimum tenure of 2 years. Neither husband nor wife have evenshowed up to talk to staff . But all live programming has been cancelled for 48 hrs..
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
Furthermore, Barkha Dutt highlighted the thoroughly unprofessional behvaiour of Kapil Sibal’s wife who is also in the management of the company and the couple’s absolute disdain for the journalists.
Wife, who ran a meat factory, says loudly in the workplace, "I shut down factory withut giving a paisa to labour, who are these journalists to ask for 6 months salary." Her labour should have been paid better, but her disparaing remarks of journalists is sickening
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
What is most shameful is that @KapilSibal earns crores every day and wont pay 200 employees the industry norm of 6 months or at least 3 months pay out, ruining the lives of 200 plus people.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
Dutt also revealed that Kapil Sibal wanted to blame the Modi government for the sacking of the employees but according to her the Modi government pose no hindrance to the operations of the channel.
Am told @KapilSibal & wife wanted to use Modi as excuse to sack staff saying Modi didnt let channel run. But to be absolutely blunt. GOI has done nothing. Husband and wife have not faced staff, went on holiday to london, while shutting shop, prompting me to call him Mallya
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
She also claimed that she has been threatened with defamation for siding with the employees.
For fighting for rights of staff, I have been threatened with defamation and ordered to "withdraw my emails" comparing @KapilSibal to Mallya. I have refused. I support the staff of @NewsHtn and will help them fight this legally, with a criminal case and complain
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
In another explosive revelation, Dutt alleged that Kapil Sibal and his wife had used sexist slurs against the female staffers.
Worst of all, @KapilSibal & wife have referred to female staffers as "Kutiya"or Bitch. This is a fit case for NCW @sharmarekha & we will place signed affidavits to prove our case.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
Further claiming that Kapil Sibal did not address the concern of the employees which made her go public with the revelations, Barkha Dutt urges the media to stand with the sacked employees of HTN and question Kapil Sibal.
Lastly, it would be easy for me to be silent. @KapilSibal owes a lot of us senior staff salary for a year and has refused to pay it. We will fight that legally. But what is more critical is 200 employees whose lives depend on this. Hope @IndEditorsGuild protects this staff
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
The allegations against the Kapil Sibal run network is indeed grave. However, it remains to be seen if the media takes him to the task.
