Dear Sir,
This letter is with respect to your article in TOI dated 12th April under the headline “Cops-visit-to-career-fest-raises-eyebrows/articleshow”
Link of Article:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Cops-visit-to-career-fest-raises-eyebrows/articleshow/4390193.cms#write
Page No: 5
It is extremely regrettable that such an article was published without any verification or any intimation and it was completely baseless.
The news published in the article was totally baseless and untrue. And comes at a time when we were conducting the noble cause of organizing an Educational, Career Counseling and Guidance Fest for students of 10th and 12th classes in and around Mumbai area. This Fest was attended by professionals from different fields and from the administration and University as well.
Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) is a secular organization of working professionals which includes several respected doctors, engineers, businessmen an various other professionals and students, which is working relentlessly for the social and educational upliftment of the society. Instead of appreciating our efforts there seems to be an attempt to malign the organization which is uncalled for.
As indicated in your report that AMP members have said that certain authorities were looking for suspicious elements and they were not comfortable by their presence, but in reality none of your journalists present even discussed this matter nor was any such statement issued by any of the AMP members on the contrary our efforts were lauded by the concerned authorities themselves. We had senior executives from the administration who had graced the occasion not to investigate but infact they were our Guests of Honour who had graced the occasion with their presence to motivate the students. In actual fact the concerned administrative organization themselves seemed upset as to how AMP can make such accusations at them and were perplexed as to know that no such statement was issued on behalf of AMP or any other associated organizations.
It is extremely unfortunate that such a goof up had to happen from a responsible organization and a leading media publication whom we look up towards. Indeed we wonder what was the need for such an article. Was it that the concerned journalist’s ego was not massaged good enough during the function or has it become fashionable by the media to unnecessarily point a needle of suspicion at any entity having “Muslim” in its name because such a news sells? So much so for responsible journalism.
Even Education Times had a Career Fest organized between 24-26 April at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex, Although it was supposed to be open till 8 pm, on the last day the organizers were directed by the security staff to draw the curtains before 6pm because there was a rally being addressed by a political party just adjacent to the venue. This is a known fact because stalls were being vacated and no visitors were allowed inside the venue even before 6pm. Now, can we claim that ‘The career fest organized by Education Times was looked upon as a threat to National Security and hence was asked to close down early”. Infact atleast no such thing happened at the Career Fest organized on the 11th n 12th of April.
We would appreciate that the Media conglomerate takes care in future that such an irresponsible act is not committed in future which may put you in an awkward situation.
As you proudly say “The leader guards the reader”. We are sure that this is just a case of over-sight by your organization, because it is in fact inappropriate for a responsible organization like TOI to commit such a blunder.
We would further appreciate if the News daily publishes a clarification/apology for the same.
Yours Sincerely,
Syed Najeeb-Ur-Rahman
Head – P.R. & Corporate Communications.
Association of Muslim Professionals,
Mumbai, India.
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