Letter to the Hoot: insensitive Zee News

IN Opinion | 21/01/2007

Should such questions be put to a child who has just lost her mother?

I was deeply pained to see the 6 year old Vineesha talking on Zee News. Does this news channel have any sense? As you know, Vineesha`s mother Brijlata was allegedly murdered by her husband. And the only witness was her 6 year old daughter Vineesha.

Firstly, why was so important to have this kid on tv? Some Zee News reader was interviewing her from the studio. I don`t know if the child was given some chocolates by that reporter, so that she answers the questions properly. Because, i saw the footage of Vineesha coming out of the Majistrate court after recording her statement. She was seen crying in it. But here, she was seen normal.

And look at the type of questions she was put by that reporter.
1. Will you help the police to track the murderer of your mother? (the girl did not get the question, and the question was repeated). This shows that how tender the child is. She is not yet grown up to answer such questions.

2. Now that police have arrested your father, and even your mother is no more, so with whom will you live?
(Wasn`t that a stupid question. Dear interviewer, don`t you understand the feelings of this young kid who has just lost her mother ? Is it right to put such questions to her? )

3. What will you become when you grow old?
(the questions continued....)

All irrelevant questions. I think this ?entertainment? programme went on for an hour.

Govinda
Mysore
January 18, 07

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