“Join my channel” Ravish Kumar appeals viewers as he scales 8M subscribers on YouTube
Kumar's channel reached 8 million subscribers in one year's span since he joined YT
New Delhi: Ravish Kumar, the former Executive Editor of NDTV and renowned Indian journalist, has achieved a milestone with his YouTube channel crossing 8 million subscribers. The accomplishment comes just over a year after Kumar officially launched his channel in October 2022. Notably, he commenced publishing videos on the platform after announcing his resignation from NDTV on December 1, 2022, through a video post.
In a recent video expressing gratitude to his viewers, Kumar thanked them for their unwavering support. He encouraged more people to subscribe to his channel and emphasized the importance of viewers "Joining" the channel on YouTube, a feature that allows users to support creators through paid memberships.
Known for his incisive commentary and independent perspective, Kumar's YouTube channel has become immensely popular, attracting millions of views for most of his videos. The veteran journalist, based in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India, had dedicated 27 years to NDTV, where he held the position of senior executive editor and anchored several flagship shows.
The decision to resign and venture into the digital media came amid a challenging period for Kumar. Apart from personal challenges, including his mother's illness in Bihar, he faced death threats on his personal phone from supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to his political coverage. Additionally, NDTV was grappling with a hostile takeover by Adani Group, known for its close association with the prime minister.
Choosing his YouTube channel as the platform to announce his departure, Kumar maintained his composure, expressing gratitude to viewers for their decades-long support. In his resignation speech, he likened the situation to a bird losing its nest to external forces. Kumar also issued a warning about authoritarian forces dividing the country and lamented the state of journalism in India, describing it as the "dark age of journalism."
Ravish Kumar is leading a growing trend among Indian journalists who have departed mainstream media organizations in recent years, opting to establish a presence on YouTube and other social media platforms. This shift is seen as a response to the challenges faced by noncompliant media organizations in the current political climate in India.
“As the country approaches the general election anticipated in April or May 2024, where Prime Minister Modi seeks a third term, social media platforms like YouTube are increasingly becoming vital spaces for journalists to share unbiased news and maintain their journalistic endeavors,” a report of “Rest of World” mentioned earlier this week.
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Prez nod for FIR against AAP's Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain in Rs 2,000-cr classroom 'scam'
New Delhi, Mar 13 (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval for the registration of an FIR against AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in an alleged scam of Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools, sources said.
In 2022, the Delhi government's vigilance directorate recommended a probe into the alleged scam and submitted a report to the chief secretary.
The President has given her approval for registering the FIR against Sisodia and Jain in connection with the alleged scam during their tenures as ministers in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, the sources said.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), in a report dated February 17, 2020, highlighted "glaring irregularities" in the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools by the Public Works Department (PWD).
The President's approval came under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act that pertains to "enquiry or inquiry or investigation of offences relatable to recommendations made or decision taken by public servant in discharge of official functions or duties".
Reacting to the development, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the BJP of carrying out a witch-hunt against its political rivals.
The BJP has no interest or intention to fulfil the promises it made to the people of Delhi. Its only agenda is to carry out a witch-hunt against its political rivals to stifle the voice of people, the former minister said in a statement.
The BJP-led central government has already decided to prosecute every political adversary of the party and grant approvals to move the case forward but it should wait for the judicial process to begin, he said.
In July 2019, BJP leader Harish Khurana and then AAP rebel MLA Kapil Mishra, now a minister in the Delhi government, lodged a police complaint about the alleged scam.
According to a report prepared by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Delhi government, the complainants alleged that there was a scam worth over Rs 2,000 crore in the construction of classrooms and school buildings in Delhi. The work was done at a highly inflated cost by the Delhi government.
The alleged scam involves the construction of around 12,748 classrooms.
The ACB report said the total expenditure incurred for constructing the classrooms and school buildings was around Rs 2,892.65 crore. They were allegedly constructed at the rate of Rs 8,800 per square feet, whereas it was common knowledge that the average construction cost (even for a builder of flats) was around Rs 1,500 per square feet.
The total cost for constructing a classroom and school building, according to the tender awarded, was allegedly around Rs 24.86 lakh per room, whereas such rooms are easily constructed in Delhi at around Rs 5 lakh per room, it said.
The prices were increased almost five times to defraud the taxpayer by siphoning off money from the public exchequer in the garb of construction cost, the report said.
Even for a 5-star hotel, top ultra-luxury quality construction is around Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,500 per square feet, it said.
The complainants submitted a copy of documents in which information received under the RTI Act in respect of the construction of 18 classrooms in the Govt Girls Senior Secondary School, Nathupura, Burari (school ID:-1207111) revealed that they were constructed at a cost of Rs 12 crore, the ACB report said.
