It is official! Within months of Arnab Goswami, media stalwart of Times Now fame, quitting the channel, Senior Journalist Barkha Dutt has followed suit and quit as Consulting Editor of NDTV, and announced her decision on Twitter and Facebook.
In a series of tweets Barkha said that “it had been a super ride at NDTV, but new beginning in 2017". She also mentioned that she was “hugely excited to start New Year on a new slate, diversify my interests and build my own independent projects".
According to reports, Barkha Dutt is all set to start her own venture. In November, 2016 Arnab Goswami had quit Times Now to start his new venture 'Republic'.
Journey of Barkha Dutt
Barkha Dutt came to the limelight since the Kargil War in 1999, when she was present there in the war zone, in person, covering the war everyday live. She also had interviewed Martyr Capt. Vikram Batra just before he lay down his life while capturing peak 5140 back from the Pakistani forces. Barkha Dutt has also been the face of one of the most prominent programmes of NDTV, We The People and has won many national as well as international awards including the Padma Shri. However, Barkha’s professional life has also been marred by controversies.- During the Kargil War, Barkha had disclosed the location of the army on many occasions to the peril of the soldiers. Whether this was done inadvertently, no one will ever know.
- While covering the events of 2002 Gujarat violence, Dutt identified attackers and victims of a riot as "Hindus" and "Muslims" on television, flouting the guidelines of the Press Council of India.
- 26/11, when Mumbai was under siege by terrorists, Dutt reported from the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi Trident, putting lives at risk and causing deaths by identifying on live television where the hotel guests might be located. Barkha dutt came under heavy criticism for her coverage of 2008 Mumbai attacks and was blamed for sensationalising the events.
- Barkha also revealed information about sensitive Army operation as well as logistic information live during the Pathankot attack in 2016.
- Barkha Dutt’s support of terrorist Burhan Wani has been the most appalling of all her blunders. She insisted on calling him the innocent son of a school headmaster.
- To add to all this, Barkha has always tried to malign India with the 'Intolerance Debate'.
