To Rajdeep, With Deep Respect

I wrote this email to Rajdeep, Editor-in-Chief (CNN-IBN), about a month ago hoping I could hear from him. Nothing like that happened until now.

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Dear Rajdeep,

It is with deep sadness I am writing this question (rather a lengthy email). I am writing to you because I see you as the window of India.

The brutal crimes perpetrated by Sri Lankan costal guards against Tamilnadu fisherman is getting worse every day. It is debatable whether these fishermen actually cross the boundary for want of fish, but the bottom line is they ended up beaten heavily if not killed. So far, more than 550+ Tamil Fisherman has been killed under the pretext that they have crossed the Indian waters. Lately, four fishermen – Victus (22), Anthony (40), John Paul (23) and Marimuthu (32) – become victims.

This continuing barbarism orchestrated by Sri Lankan naval guards call for immediate answers for the following questions:

(1) Who gives the right to Sri Lankan naval guards to kill the Tamilnadu fisherman? Why not arrest those who cross the boundaries and reprimand them?

(2) Is this what Indian naval guards do to Pakistan fishermen who ended up landing on Indian waters?

(3) Why are the central/state government and Supreme Court turning a Nelson’s eye to these killings? Are the dead fishermen not Indians?

It is unfortunate that none of the leading dailies or television channels in Tamilnadu is interested in broadcasting a cover story of the death of 550+ Tamilnadu fishermen. The politicians in Tamilnadu won’t take up this issue until 2016 elections. May I request you to make a 30 or 60-min documentary on this issue and broadcast it in CNN-IBN during the prime time? And also, can you please bring this issue at the talking point of your ‘India at 9’ show sometime soon? I am sure the MDMK leader Mr. V. Gopalsamy (Vaiko) would be a great person to be included in the debate as he is the most knowledgeable political person in this issue.

I would really appreciate it if you could do this. You probably won’t get much advertisement money if you broadcast this documentary, but the dead fishermen family and the people of Tamilnadu would be eternally grateful to you and what is more satisfying than that?

Thank you Rajdeep. Whether you bring this point or not, I will continue watching your ‘India at 9’ show - the only Indian show I would like to watch every day.

Sincerely,
Boobalan (Chicago)