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The Many Times TNM’s Shabbir Ahmed Got Schooled By Politicians In TN

October 6, 2023
The Commune

Shabbir Ahmed of the Dravidianist-Leftist media outlet The News Minute was recently in the news for giving a veiled threat at Tamil Nadu BJP leaders saying if BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai didn’t mend his ways, things would take a different turn. He was referring to the alleged behaviour of the party’s state chief with press reporters. 

Following this press meeting, journalists swarmed around Annamalai when they spotted him on 5 October 2023 after the executive committee meeting. Shabbir tried to play smart with Annamalai by asking him when he was going to release the ADMK corruption files, only to be royally thrashed by Annamalai who retorted saying, “I am not here to raise the TRP of News Minute”.

This is not the first time he has been schooled by Annamalai. 

Other Times When Annamalai Showed Shabbir His Place

Shabbir, previously a Deputy News Editor at Times Now, joined TNM as a ‘Senior News Editor’ in February 2022. He is responsible for managing The News Minute Tamil’s YouTube channel, where he hosts the show ‘Yen Endra Kevi.’ The show primarily delves into the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, with a particular focus on critiquing the politics of BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai, which Shabbir finds contentious. Interestingly, Annamalai had previously called out Shabbir for his evident bias.

When Annamalai was hounded by Shabbir and his coterie of journalist friends over him allegedly referring to journalists as monkeys and why the PRO was asking them to come for the press meet, he shut up Shabbir by saying, “If you think Annamalai has made a mistake, you have the complete right to boycott me. I have not made a mistake so I will not apologize. Why should I apologise when I have not made a mistake? I have a problem with agenda journalists. If you take your individual decision to boycott me, I welcome it. Thank you.”

Not only did he face a reprimand from BJP Tamil Nadu chief Annamalai for his transgressions, but he has also been called out by politicians from various parties for his breach of journalistic ethics.

 

“Don’t Overdo It”: PMK Leader Anbumani Ramadoss Shuts Up Shabbir

Shabbir was put in his place by PMK leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss back in 2019 at the press meet organized by the party after it announced its alliance for the Lok Sabha polls. Shabbir bombarded the PMK leader with a barrage of questions, pushing his patience to the limit.

Shabbir asked Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, “Sir the questions arising here…”

Dr Anbumani shuts him up saying, “Shabbir I am done with you. It is not right on you. Don’t overdo it.” Shabbir continued to question Dr Anbumani saying he was asking legitimate questions. He begged him to take his one question but Dr Anbumani told him to sit down and that he was not going to take any questions from him and that he had answered 5 of Shabbir’s questions. 

When DMK Thrashed Shabbir

In 2014, Shabbir Ahmed faced physical assault by DMK members, which seems to have subsequently led him to adopt a more subservient stance towards the party. He has been notably deferential when reporting on the DMK ever since. During the incident involving over 50 DMK supporters, three TV journalists, including the then Times Now reporter Shabbir Ahmed, were attacked outside the residence of party treasurer MK Stalin. This attack was triggered by the journalists’ discussion of Stalin’s contemplated resignation from party positions following the election results. The violent episode resulted in the damage of cameras and equipment and extended to target other members of the media.

“You Will Never Change”: When MDMK Chief Vaiko Hit Out At Shabbir

In yet another instance at a press meet called by the MDMK in 2016, in this video, MDMK Chief Vaiko is seen calling out Shabbir Ahmed saying, “Sir, Mr Shabbir, kindly listen to me, I was expelled from the DMK, you don’t know the fact. Don’t try to justify the culprits. I am sorry about the media, I know your inner mind, I know about you. Don’t try to blame me. I was expelled from the DMK, you don’t know the basic facts. You are trying to malign me. You will never change. Whatever happens, Shabbir will never change.”

Senior BJP Leaders School Shabbir

At the press meeting with Pon Radhakrishnan where he repeatedly complained about Annamalai, he got schooled by both Radhakrishnan and H Raja. Shabbir Ahmed raised “concerns” about Annamalai’s demeanour towards reporters, alleging disrespectful behavior, Pon Radhakrishnan replied saying, “Now you are asking a question, the others are silent and when another asked a question, the rest of you were silent. Why are you not following this with him? Don’t the journalists have their own dharma/duty? I am not finding fault with you. What I am asking you is, to give the same respect and treat the State President of Tamil Nadu BJP the same way as you would do with the other political party heads in the state”.

When a journalist blamed Annamalai for not attending the press meeting with the rest of the leaders, H Raja interjected and said, “I don’t approve of this. You should not say he doesn’t “know” to come to a press meet. Even in Delhi, press meetings are conducted, does the President attend all the meetings and answer the questions? It is the spokesperson who does it. Each party has its rules and methods. So don’t speak derogatorily about the State President, such remarks create an ill-will. So please avoid such questions.“

Despite having been schooled by so many politicians, young and old, Shabbir Ahmed seems to have not learnt his lesson. Although he has gone soft on the DMK and its allies either by being polite or not asking controversial questions, he often flexes his ‘journalistic’ muscles before the BJP, particularly Mr. Annamalai.

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