It has been reported in the Herald Goa today, March 13, 2023, with the headline, “Angry chorus of betrayed ex-TMC members against ‘untruths’ and ‘betrayal’ by party pours out” that former TMC leaders accused the Goa TMC party of ‘betrayal and unfulfilled promises’. These alleged statements are absolutely baseless and untrue. The allegations made by Kiran Kandolkar regarding Goa TMC and the lack of payment for poll expenses raise serious questions about the intent, transparency and journalistic ethics of the editorial desk of the Herald Goa. The paper has not contacted the party for its view. This violates the basic tenets of professional journalism.
Citing Farrel Furtado e Gracias’s remarks about the sidelining of MP Luizinho Faleiro and Margao councillor Mahesh Amonkar without verifying and substantiating the claims by Goa TMC leadership is a blatant case of violating the grammar of journalism.
It is pertinent to note that there were two serious allegations of misconduct against the former office bearer Vijai Pai. He was immediately removed from the work of the party. It is evident that he is coming out with these untruths and lies. The statements carried by the Herald are bereft of facts. Herald, for this article, chose to abandon basic principles and guidelines of journalism before publishing such blatant and biased untruths.
It would have been prudent that before any “hit job report” was published, alternate views and facts could have been first cross checked and verified by Goa TMC State in-Charge or any other senior office bearer, Instead of trying to cause damage to the party’s reputation and sensationalise the matter. We urge the media to exercise caution and refrain from publishing unverified and defamatory allegations.
Expressing his anguish and disappointment, Goa TMC State In-Charge Kirti Azad said, “I reiterate that Mr. Luizinho Faleiro is an honourable Member of Parliament who has, with the full consent and active encouragement of the TMC, raised multiple issues in Rajya Sabha pertaining to Goa. Hence the allegation of “sidelining” Mr. Faleiro is absurd. These wild allegations should have been verified and a statement on them would have been forthcoming from the party. It is important to follow basic principles, guidelines, and jurisprudence. The reported news is defamatory and amounts to nothing but yellow journalism. We urge media outlets to refrain from publishing such baseless allegations without proper verification.”
He further stressed, “We would like to state that if any such allegations are made in the future, they should be backed with proof and not mere hearsay, and a comment should be taken from the Goa TMC State In-Charge to ensure that all sides of the story are heard and that the news is reported in a fair and accurate manner. Goa TMC is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency. We have always stood by our principles and fulfilled our promises to the people of Goa. Any claims to the contrary are baseless and without merit. We will continue to work tirelessly for the betterment of the people of Goa and remain committed to serving them with the utmost sincerity and dedication.”
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Shooting the messenger when criticism is unpalatable
Herald notes with amusement TMC’s sweeping remarks on O Heraldo’s journalism when all it did was present a justifiable and journalistic counter narrative to TMC’s assertion that it is here to stay and it would form the next government and that many leaders were joining the party.
Shooting the messenger
It is in deference to our principles of journalism that the counter narrative was published to allow readers to judge for themselves. The fact that some strong bitter and harsh charges were levelled by not one but several of those who exited from the party each of them screaming betrayal and distrust towards the party they joined, is understandably unpalatable to the TMC and the person who is the de-facto incharge. But the outburst against Herald is a typical case of shooting the messenger when the message is not to its liking.
About not contacting the party for “its view” is a skewed complaint. TMC held a press conference on March 12, wherein, within its absolute right, it levelled several charges against the Congress and the BJP, which Herald duly and prominently reported as the lead story on page 3 in its March 13 edition. So now will TMC also call for us to contact the BJP and the Congress for their “party’s” view?
Far from violating any tenet of professional journalism, O Heraldo has stuck to the tenets by publishing TMC’s entire rejoinder in full including the disparaging, false and over the top remarks against O Heraldo, placing on record TMC’s “view”.
About their senior member Vijay Pai, TMC states he was sacked from the party. This is surprising. It is on record that Pai resigned. TMC needs to answer why the party has come up with the sacking theory after Pai joined the chorus of ex-TMC people in collectively expressing their betrayal?
La affaire Luizinho Faleiro
It is interesting to read Goa TMC State incharge Kirti Azad reiterating that Luizinho Faleiro is a Honourable member of Parliament and has raised Goa’s issues with the ‘full consent & active encouragement’.
Can TMC account for several “hit jobs” on the platforms of other local media against Faleiro quoting unnamed TMC sources indicating that the party is displeased with Faleiro and have sent feelers to him to resign. The reports also quoted fresh off the boat TMC Goa members making disrespectful remarks against Faleiro. None of these reports were ever denied by TMC. Their silence cuts like a knife.
Luizinho Faleiro, lest one forgets, was unceremoniously dropped as National Vice President and then the State committee in spite of bring a founder member and a former CM of Goa.
To this another local daily in its report headlined “Is Faleiro on his way out of TMC” dated 15.9.22 stated Samil Volvoikar, after being appointed as the joint convener of the Goa unit of Trinamool Congress, had said that whatever decision the party has taken has been taken only after full consultation with workers in Goa and members of the state committee” (He added) “we are missing nobody”.
The same report said, “A source in the central leadership of the party said that Faleiro was told to resign from the Rajya Sabha following the dismal assembly election results but he sought time till August. He asked the leadership for permission to attend one more Parliament session to raise issues pertaining to Goa.”
It is anybody’s guess who this central leadership “source” is. Did Mr Kirti Azad ask this “source” before his statement of support to Mr Faleiro?
Importantly the TMC has never denied this report or the source’s remark. These are hard and substantiated facts. Is there a sudden change of heart now towards Faleiro?
Therefore, in what manner is Farrel Furtado e Gracias’ comment about sidelining of Mr Faleiro incorrect?
About Mahesh Amonkar, he himself is clearly on record stating he was betrayed and had to suffer untruths.
About Herald “abandoning basic principles and guidelines of journalism”, the readers of Herald are our masters and judges of our work for 123 years. They have a far better understanding of our principles and reportage than any political party, either established or fledgling, with no base in Goa.
The publishing of TMC’s rejoinder itself is evidence of our principles encasing the right to give a rejoinder and the right to respond.
Meanwhile, many who were associated with TMC in the past would like TMC to revisit its own standard of political ethics and dignity in its conduct with its members in Goa who have said they left the party out of frustration. It is upto the TMC how it wants to address this call.
