NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
The controversy over Time magazine's report on the health of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is much ado about little, a section of foreign correspondents stationed in India felt.
"[The hue and cry] was an overreaction," one correspondent said. "Much of it [the contents of the report] had already been reported by the media in India."
But Indian officials took strong objection to Time's Delhi bureau chief Alex Perry's report, and many Indian editors rubbished it as bad journalism -- all of which, some of the correspondents felt, was 'uncalled for', especially because before Perry, a television programme had portrayed Vajpayee in worse light.
"A Russian channel showed Vajpayee in an inattentive and unobservant condition at a meeting, while his national security adviser, Brajesh Mishra, was shown calling the shots," recalled one journalist.
Ask him or his colleagues whether you can take identify them in print, and they refuse politely -- not after what Perry 'went through', they say.
What Perry 'went through' was to be questioned by the foreigners' regional registration office, a wing of the Indian home ministry, for allegedly possessing two passports.
The situation has been explained to the authorities, his lawyer Lalit Bhasin said. According to Bhasin, the second passport was simply an additional booklet for visa endorsements, and Perry was free to move around in India. "He has no restrictions," Bhasin said. "There won't be any further questioning."
FRRO officials have, however, asked Perry to let them know if he is leaving the country "as a matter of courtesy", Bhasin added.
For his part, Perry remained appreciative of Indian democracy. "It is unlike other Asian countries where you write anything against the government and you are kicked out," he was quoted as saying.
Asked whether he planned to leave the country, Perry said, "No, not at all. I am highly impressed with Indian democracy."
EARLIER REPORT: 'Time' denies apology, stands by report on PM
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
