Friends: Following message is from "IndiaCause.com"
Since our first letter to PBS Wide Angle' have made substantial corrections to "Soul of India" web site.
1. "Hindu fundamentalist" was replaced by "Hindu nationalists" all over the page.
2. Statement "Over the last three months, some 2,000 Muslims have been killed" Was changed to "Over the last three months, at least 850 Muslims have been killed"
3. Most objectionable and mischievous statement was removed completely "Meanwhile extremist Hindu private schools are spreading rapidly across India"
4. Statement "Will the nation be split -- by a Hindu fundamentalist movement hoping to rise to power by fanning the winds of religious extremism?" Was changed to "Will the nation be split by an increasingly powerful Hindu nationalist movement?"
Wide Angle' episode is the best example of how this "BIASED WESTERN MEDIA" goes on with its mischievous reporting about Hindus and Indians without a shred of evidence.
IndiaCause members have done a great job in letting PBS know that Indians can not be taken for Ride so easily.
If Mr. Stephen Segaller is serious about his assurances, PBS/'Wide Angle' will have to amend the documentary to reflect above changes before they air it on Thursday.
In his reply, Executive Producer, Stephen Segaller assures us the following:
"I understand your concern that our program should not tell only one side of the story of recent inter-communal and inter-religious conflict and violence in Gujarat. Be assured that I share that objective.
In this film, we will be reporting mainly on recent events in Godhra and Ahmedabad, and placing them in a full context. We have no intention of producing a program prejudicial to Hindus or Muslims.
I can assure you that we take the reputation of Thirteen and PBS for fair reporting very seriously. In order to maintain it, we commission our programs from producers and directors of the highest quality, ensure that they tell their stories fairly, and put them through a rigorous process of fact-checking.
I hope that you will watch the program
with an open mind and let me know your thoughts after you have seen
it." (The complete letter is available on our home page www.IndiaCause.com)
To logically conclude this campaign:
Please DO watch the program on 19th
at:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/about/film10.html
and DO send your feedback
for Mr Stephen Segaller at following
addresses:
segaller@thirteen.org, viewer@pbs.org,
programming@thirteen.org,
cause@IndiaCause.com