This is with reference to the article'Cronyism,nepotism, conceit to Subrata Roy's fall' written by Mr Deepak Gidwani and published on the front page of
your esteemed publication, dna, on December 1, 2014. We have serious objections
to the article. The article does not have any news, but is only the biased,
concocted and prejudicial view of Mr Deepak Gidwani, an ex-employee of Sahara
Group, embodying his personal grudge against Sahara, disguised in the form of a
media report. The words used in the headline like "cronyism",
"nepotism" as well as other adjectives, used in context of Saharasree
throughout the article, are highly derogatory and sarcastic in nature and seek
to malign the reputation of the entire organisation and its Managing Worker
& Chairman. The reporter selectively quotes unknown and undisclosed sources
in his effort to harm the image of the organisation. A quote of an alleged and
anonymous employee has been extrapolated as the sentiments of more than 12 lakh
workers of Sahara, which in every aspect, even statistically, is amusing. The
article quotes an anonymous 'CA', whose remarks are highly immature. It's a
common practice among businessmen around the world to name their companies
after them, while Saharasree has added his company's name – Sahara — to his
name. Can this be called hubris? Harvard Business School recognises his
philosophy of 'collective materialism' and looks up to him as a corporate
visionary. This premier business school has invited him to give lessons and
motivate the students of business and public policy on life and man-management
as crucial to success in a business enterprise. Mr Roy has also been awarded an
Honorary Doctorate of Business from University of East London (UEL) for his
contribution to business, sport, education and social and community
development. Can this be termed nepotism, cronyism, incompetency or
unprofessionalism? The group, which started with mere Rs2,000 and 3 people, is
now a conglomerate of $16 billion with a workforce of more than 1.2 million. It
could not have achieved such a growth on the whims and fancies of an
individual.
— Abhijit Sarkar,
Corporate Communications Head, Sahara Group
Our correspondent's reply:
I wish to assert that I completely stand by my story, and that it is in no way biased or driven by any kind of vendetta. I left Sahara in 2003 and to allege that I have waited for 11 long years to write such a piece without occasion or news value is rather far-fetched. My write-up is just a dispassionate commentary on an organisation I have seen at close quarters from the inside. I have a track record of 27 years in this profession, and most of it was with leading media groups.
I wish to assert that I completely stand by my story, and that it is in no way biased or driven by any kind of vendetta. I left Sahara in 2003 and to allege that I have waited for 11 long years to write such a piece without occasion or news value is rather far-fetched. My write-up is just a dispassionate commentary on an organisation I have seen at close quarters from the inside. I have a track record of 27 years in this profession, and most of it was with leading media groups.
Last but not the
least, I spoke with you (Abhijit Sarkar) and told you about the story that I
was planning to do and I also asked for your version of it. Your staff asked me
to mail the queries, which I did, but never got a reply despite my persistent
follow-up over three days before I submitted the story. My facts are
source-based, and I must hasten to add here that my report is not intended to
malign anyone.
— Deepak Gidwani
