Uttar Pradesh house summons editors for ‘fake sting’ against Azam Khan

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh assembly has summoned editors and reporters of news channels Aaj Tak and India Today TV on February 26, after a house committe indicted them for promoting enmity between different groups during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots by airing a “fake sting operation” concerning senior minister Azam khan.

Members of all parties in the Vidhan Sabha which debated the committe’s report on Tuesday, barring the BJP which walked out in protest, made scathing remarks on the conduct and reporting of a section of the electronic media.

The seven-member committee report said that in September 2013, the television group had in a “sting operation" alleged that ruling SP minister Azam Khan had telephoned police officials to go easy on prime accused in the molestation case in Muzaffarnagar, which later triggered the large-scale violence leading to riots.

After the sting was raised by the opposition, Speaker MP Pandey constituted a seven-member committe in September 2013 to look into the issue. The panel submitted its 350-page report last week.