Aveek and his dose of headlines to Mamata sarkar: Top picks from The Telegraph
Aveek Sarkar’s sudden resignation as the editor-in-chief of The Telegraph and Anandabazar Patrika has become the talking point. While the company maintains that it is merely a succession plan with the mantle now passing on to younger brother Arup, the timing of the exit is curious, considering that the ABP Group owner, who was also a very hands-on editor (choosing the layout and even the headlines that would appear), had taken on Mamata Banerjee through his various publications and Bengali TV channel.
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On 4 December, 2014, The Telegraph drew a “bamboo curtain” across half of its front page, ostensibly to “shield” the readers from Mamata Banerjee’s “bamboos in backside” comment at a rally in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri. Readers were also advised, albeit sarcastically, that one needed to be an adult to read Banerjee’s comments.
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The date was 4 October, 2015, bang in the middle local civic body elections in Salt Lake near Kolkata. The newspaper reported that the woman in the picture who tried to hide her face on seeing a photographer, was part of a group who were flitting in and out of the booth and casting votes. The Salt Lake civic body polls was marred by allegations of widespread violence and false voting.
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On 19 November, 2014, The Telegraph reported from New Delhi that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “threw the mike” and apparently walked out in the middle of an interview by a TV channel after she was asked questions about the Saradha chit fund scam.
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On 28 January, 2014, The Telegraph mocked the chief minister for virtually recreating the Republic Day celebrations the day after D-Day, with a long procession of autorickshaws, taxis, cycles, fire-tenders and a balloon-festooned double-decker bus. The occasion? The state government’s launch of the Khadya Sathi scheme.
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The Telegraph covered the infamous Narada sting operation on 15 March, 2016, where top-tanking Trinamool Congress leaders were caught on camera allegedly pocketing bundles of cash. On the left panel, the newspaper carried a digest of all 14 individuals whose names allegedly featured on the tapes released by Narada News, a portal.
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The Telegraph carried a mocking headline on 16 March, 2016, over the Narada sting operation, evoking the mythical Naradamuni while taking a jab at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
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On 17 March, 2016, the headline screamed ‘Pot Calls Kettle Black’, perhaps a pointer to Mamata Banerjee’s quote featured alongside. The chief minister, under pressure after the Narada sting, hit out at political rivals BJP and CPM saying they have no right to criticise her.
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On 10 March, 2016, The Telegraph slammed the Trinamool Congress for what it suggested was hypocrisy because its MPs broke Opposition ranks in the Rajya Sabha and did not participate in the voting on an amendment to the motion of thanks to the President’s address. This was in conflict with its earlier stand on the issue, said the newspaper.
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Right in the middle of West Bengal Assembly polls, on 9 April 2016, The Telegraph drew attention to ‘ghost voting’, an alleged tactic associated with ruling parties in Bengal. The alleged malpractice feeds on the names of voters who are absent, have moved residences or deceased, besides some who do not turn up despite being in the constituency on polling day.
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Even though all opinion polls suggested a comfortable win for Mamata Banerjee (some correctly predicting a landslide), a defiant Telegraph still maintained that nothing is over till the fat lady sings. The rest, as they say, is history.
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