Media ethics related ( Written by Amitabh bachchan )

As the horror of the November 2008 attacks on Mumbai was unfolding, India’s hyper-aggressive cable news media took a beating for its breathless coverage. It even faced criticisms for broadcasting details that could have been helpful to the attackers at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and Oberoi hotels.

   Amitabh Bachchan has lambasted media for their coverage of Mumbai blasts.

The circumstances of the latest attack – three blasts on Wednesday that killed almost 20 – were sufficiently different that the media couldn’t be accused of aiding the attackers. Rather than an armed rampage that lasted days, Wednesday’s attacks were blink-of-an-eye explosions detonated in crowded places, resulting in widespread carnage and a huge rescue operation.

The media came in for some lambasting nonetheless, most prominently from Amitabh Bachchan.

“Once again TV channels shall give exclusive reports from the site of the action, claiming how they were the first to bring this tragedy to your doorstep,” Big B wrote on his blog. “At the end of the day, even when you are fighting an adversary the desire by certain forces to capitalize on the situation does not change. And it does leave a very bad taste in the mouth.”

Presumably he wouldn’t consider blogging about the attacks a desire to capitalize on the situation.

At any rate, he noted in his commentary that the blasts represented another “dark night” for the city of Mumbai and a “dark moment” for the country.

The actor had just flown to Delhi where his daughter-in-law, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, was to receive an honorary medal from the French embassy. Then they heard the news.

“Minutes before we were all set to leave for the function, the news started trickling in on the blasts in Mumbai and we stopped in our tracks too shocked and dismayed at what had happened yet again in this beautiful city of ours,” he wrote. “The first reaction of course was for the safety of people, but as time passed by the horror of those killed and injured became prime.”

Mr. Bachchan said in the wake of the attacks the family had decided to cancel any celebrations. “It would not be proper to celebrate a personal achievement, when this horrific tragedy of wanton and meaningless killing has occurred in Mumbai,” he wrote.