If you have been watching the news channel 'Aak Tak' today, you would be getting worried about the 'breaking news' that they have been running about terrorist outfit JeM investing in real estate, shipping and hotel industry, stock exchange, etc etc in India. The source of this news is the Country Terrorism Report by the US Dept. of State, wherein it is said to have stated the same.
Most people would take the news headlines at face value and get jittery how the stock markets would react to the same on thursday. But wait ... are you sure the news is authentic ?? What ? doubt the credibility of a news channel like 'Aaj Tak' ? Am I nuts ? Well, I got news for you ! Having gone through the aforesaid Report myself, I found no reference where the US Dept of State has said that the terrorist money is being invested in Indian markets. Here is exactly what the Report says about JeM ...
"External Aid
Most of JEM’s cadre and material resources have been drawn from the Pakistani militant groups Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI) and the Harakat ul-Mujahedin (HUM). In anticipation of asset seizures by the Pakistani government, JEM withdrew funds from bank accounts and invested in legal businesses, such as commodity trading, real estate, and production of consumer goods. In addition, JEM collects funds through donation requests in magazines and pamphlets, and al-Qaida is suspected of providing funding."
Can you read India being mentioned anywhere ? No ? hmm ... maybe you should read again ! I mean, Aaj Tak is saying so, then how could it not be there ? Oh, I see ... the commodity trading, real estate etc. only exists in India and nowhere else in the world and hence, by inference, they are investing the illegal funds in India !
Irresponsible journalism, thats what it is. For the sake of TRPs, the channels would do anything, it seems. More shockingly, TOI as well has a news item posted on its site with a similar headline. To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. So, whats the lesson that we should learn from this ? No matter whats the source of information, verify it for yourself ! You have the means to find the accuracy or otherwise of almost everything that you hear or read, with the internet giving you access to almost unlimited source of information. So exercise your Right to Information ... and not just any information, correct and authentic information at that. And go ahead ... send your response on the same to TOI and Aaj Tak after you verify the facts for yourself !
Most people would take the news headlines at face value and get jittery how the stock markets would react to the same on thursday. But wait ... are you sure the news is authentic ?? What ? doubt the credibility of a news channel like 'Aaj Tak' ? Am I nuts ? Well, I got news for you ! Having gone through the aforesaid Report myself, I found no reference where the US Dept of State has said that the terrorist money is being invested in Indian markets. Here is exactly what the Report says about JeM ...
"External Aid
Most of JEM’s cadre and material resources have been drawn from the Pakistani militant groups Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI) and the Harakat ul-Mujahedin (HUM). In anticipation of asset seizures by the Pakistani government, JEM withdrew funds from bank accounts and invested in legal businesses, such as commodity trading, real estate, and production of consumer goods. In addition, JEM collects funds through donation requests in magazines and pamphlets, and al-Qaida is suspected of providing funding."
Can you read India being mentioned anywhere ? No ? hmm ... maybe you should read again ! I mean, Aaj Tak is saying so, then how could it not be there ? Oh, I see ... the commodity trading, real estate etc. only exists in India and nowhere else in the world and hence, by inference, they are investing the illegal funds in India !
Irresponsible journalism, thats what it is. For the sake of TRPs, the channels would do anything, it seems. More shockingly, TOI as well has a news item posted on its site with a similar headline. To say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. So, whats the lesson that we should learn from this ? No matter whats the source of information, verify it for yourself ! You have the means to find the accuracy or otherwise of almost everything that you hear or read, with the internet giving you access to almost unlimited source of information. So exercise your Right to Information ... and not just any information, correct and authentic information at that. And go ahead ... send your response on the same to TOI and Aaj Tak after you verify the facts for yourself !
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