Kapil Sibal called female employees 'b**ch', tweets Barkha Dutt
What's the story
In an astonishing turn of events, renowned journalist Barkha Dutt went on a rant against senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, accusing him of duping nearly 200 employees of Tiranga TV, a news channel which started before Lok Sabha elections.
Dutt said Sibal and his wife Promila sacked employees without giving them compensation and even got abusive when the staff protested.
Here's what went down.
Tweets
Sibal treated journalists in hideous manner, alleged Barkha
Barkha started her now-viral thread by tweeting that equipment of nearly 200 employees has been taken away, and they face sacking.
She then said Sibal, who acts "holier than thou", treated journalists in a horrendous manner.
The 47-year-old journalist said most employees joined Tiranga TV after Sibal assured them their tenure would last at least two years.
They were also promised a "professional newsroom".
Details
Apparently, Promila said, "Who are journalists to ask for salaries"
Further, Barkha said all live programming has been canceled for 48 hours.
Far from addressing concerns of employees, Sibal and Promila behaved in an outrageous manner, she added.
"Wife, who ran a meat factory, says loudly in the workplace, 'I shut down factory without giving a paisa to labor, who are these journalists to ask for 6 months salary'," wrote Barkha, highlighting couple's mindset.
Quote
Sibal earns crores but won't pay employees their salaries: Barkha
"What is most shameful is that @KapilSibal earns crores every day and won't pay 200 employees the industry norm of 6 months or at least 3 months payout, ruining the lives of 200 plus people, (sic)" one of Barkha's tweet read.
Allegations
Sibal and wife wanted to blame Centre too
Thereafter, Barkha revealed that Sibal and Promila wanted to use Centre, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as an excuse for their actions.
"But to be absolutely blunt. GOI has done nothing. Husband and wife have not faced staff, went on holiday to London, while shutting shop, prompting me to call him Mallya," she tweeted.
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Further, Barkha claimed Sibal and wife abused female staff
"I support staff of @NewsHtn and will help them fight this legally. Worst of all, @KapilSibal & wife have referred to female staffers as "Kutiya" or Bitch. This is a fit case for NCW @sharmarekha & we will place signed affidavits to prove our case," tweeted Barkha.
Twitter Post
Furious with Sibal, Barkha urged media to stand with her
I would urge friends in the media fraternity and everyone with a voice to tweet @KapilSibal till he pays employees what is due to them instead of wriggling out with one month pay out and intimidating staff with threats of defamation other Vakeel type tricks
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) July 15, 2019
Other side
However, source said all contracts were "honored"
After Barkha's explosive rant, a source at the news channel told Outlook that not "a single contract went unhonored".
"The company faced troubles after May 23, the day BJP-led NDA government returned to power; the investors backed off and the current investor refuses to invest further," the source said.
He added Sibal wasn't directly involved in the venture but his wife had launched it.
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But, employees have no clarity whatsoever
"Most systems have been taken away but we are still working with what is left. The fact that our head still wants us to slog ourselves even when the owner doesn't care about the channel is appalling," an anonymous employee told the daily.
Reactions
Another journalist opined employees should have been compensated
Another senior journalist, who was among the first ones to be hired, rubbished theories that Centre was tightening the noose around the channel.
Yet another scribe, who was laid off last month, said things went haywire after elections.
"We understand that channels face such situations, but you follow industry norms of paying at least 6-month salary when you fire people," the former employee said.