“Defaming the…”

This refers to the October 21, 2005 issue of Parsiana with specific reference to the Editorial Viewpoint, "Defaming the dedicated.”

We are shocked, to say the least, at the contents of the editorial piece and invite your attention to the following specific instances:

The insinuation that World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) has sympathizers in The Times of India is mischievous, baseless and false.

You have mischievously twisted our straightforward and unbiased style of reporting to insinuate that The Times of India is supporting the WAPIZ camp or Nadir A. Modi.

Your insinuation that The Times of India has a bias against liberal Parsi institutions and individuals is again mischievous, false and baseless.

Your statement that the House of Tatas withheld all advertising to The Times of India because of the Times’ slant against them till the editorial policy changed, is false, baseless and per se defamatory.

We find it utterly amazing that our unbiased reports pertaining to issues like environmental impact of building construction, public interest involving any large real estate properties, etc are being twisted out of context, to make it appear as if The Times of India has some connections with the obvious fights and bickering among various Parsi factions.

Please note that we have taken a very serious view of the aforesaid publication and believe that better counsel will prevail in not pursuing this line of editorial writing or reporting in your publication.

Please also note that if such instances are repeated, we shall be constrained to initiate such legal action, as we may be advised.

P. M. RAO

Company Secretary

For Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited

The editors reply

Instead of objectively examining the issues raised in our editorial The Times of India have chosen to dismiss them as "mischievous, false and baseless.”

A week after the date of their letter, the Times carried another article "Diversion of funds for Udvada has Parsis up in arms.” The only Parsis up in arms are the orthodox. Their article quotes Jamshed Mohta, a founder member of WAPIZ and Adi Doctor, who edits the orthodox publication, The Parsee Voice. It is of interest to know that The Parsee Voice and the WAPIZ Page in The Afternoon Despatch and Courier of November 24, 2005 referred to Rao’s letter even prior to our publishing it in Parsiana. No doubt the orthodox cabal in the Times ensured the contents of the letter were well circulated.

It would have been in the interest of the Times to have gone into the charges to see if there was any merit in them rather than threaten us with legal action. The Times management may not be aware of the nuances of Parsi community politics but that does not excuse their unwillingness to ascertain the truth behind the bases for our claims.

Incidentally P. M. Rao mentioned that we have insinuated that The Times of India is supporting Nadir Modi. Our editorial clearly states that The Times of India was attempting to besmirch Modi.