Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal backed ‘Tiranga TV’ channel has disappeared from some platforms. Airtel Digital TV has confirmed that the channel is no longer available on its platform.
Hi! Tiranga TV Channel is currently not available on Airtel Digital TV. You’ll be able to tune in, as soon as it is available again. Thank you, Pavani https://t.co/2G23qpsqlP
— Bharti Airtel India (@Airtel_Presence) July 10, 2019
Meanwhile, the fired employees of Tiranga TV, have reportedly filed a complaint agaist Sibal and News HTN (Tiranga TV).
At Press Cousil of India to file a complain against @NewsHtn @KapilSibal. Every pillar every post shall be touched @BDUTT @IndEditorsGuild @seemi_pasha @ArunodayM @saifizm @INCIndia @RahulGandhi @maneeshchhibber @LogicalIndians @thecaravanindia @ThePrintIndia pic.twitter.com/To5fMuvFOo
— Fired Employees Tiranga TV( @NewsHTN ) (@FiredTv) July 9, 2019
On 9th July, Tiranga TV’s fired employees also met Shekhar Gupta and submitted a memorandum to the Editors Guild of India.
Fired employees of @NewsHtn went to meet @ShekharGupta at his office and submitted a memorandum to the @IndEditorsGuild @KapilSibal @BDUTT @LogicalIndians @INCIndia @ThePrintIndia @thecaravanindia @Swamy39 @ArunodayM @saifizm @seemi_pasha @maneeshchhibber pic.twitter.com/lPs9o4Zqfw
— Fired Employees Tiranga TV( @NewsHTN ) (@FiredTv) July 9, 2019
Gupta is the Editor of an online digital platform, ThePrint and President of the Editors Guild of India. ThePrint is often accused of distortion and spreading fake news. The Editor’s Guild has not yet issued any statement on the Tiranga TV employees’ memorandum.
Tiranga TV controversy
Launched ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, English News channel Tiranga TV that started off as Harvest TV, has landed in fresh turmoil. The employees of Tiranga TV have alleged that they were fired abruptly. Later, the fired employees took to Twitter to register their grievances on sudden dismissal. They had also protested outside Sibal’s house demanding justice.
Many fired employees have alleged that they had left lucrative job offers to join the channel. The employees claimed they were assured before joining that company would run for around 3 years. The move has left them in the lurch as they have no clarity about the situation. They have demanded six months salary from the management as compensation for unceremonious dismissal.
The media outlet has often been severely critical of the Modi government. It witnessed the return of many prominent journalists including Barkha Dutt, Karan Thapar, and Punya Prasun Bajpai. The channel was launched on the Republic Day this year as Harvest TV.
Later, Harvest TV was rechristened 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.