India TV's Q W Naqvi puts in his papers

Naqvi worked with the channel for six months as editorial director.

After a short stint of six months, Qamar Waheed Naqvi has put in his papers at India TV.

The veteran journalist was designated as editorial director at the company.

While Naqvi was unavailable for comment, India TV issued an official statement with Ritu Dhawan, CEO and MD of India TV, confirming that the company has accepted his resignation.

There were media reports yesterday mentioning that Naqvi's resignation is a protest against the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's interview on the channel, which he called 'fixed'.

Rubbishing media reports, Dhawan says, "We are surprised at the reasons being attributed to it in the social media. Such reasons are baseless, and we condemn the effort being made to use it for political gains."

Rajat Sharma, India TV chairman, had recently interviewed Modi in his show, 'Aap Ki Adaalat'.

Sharma adds, "There is a continuous attempt by some people to defame the electronic media which has been officially condemned by broadcasters. We in the news media have covered several elections in the past and will cover many more. We cannot allow our industry to become a tool in the hands of interested parties during elections."

Starting his career in 1980 as a trainee journalist (Hindi) with The Times of India Group, Naqvi has worked for Navbharat Times, and later, for 'Ravivar' as chief reporter.

Before joining Aaj Tak, he was part of the team that started the Hindi daily, Chauthi Duniya. At Chauthi Duniya, the first Hindi weekly broadsheet, his innovations with layout design gained him a reputation as a man with defining ideas.