Almost two decades after she joined NDTV, Group Editor Barkha Dutt is stepping down from the channel that truly brought private news to India. Having made her name reporting the war in Kargil, Dutt became one of NDTV's most prominent faces, anchoring the nightly news and the popular weekly program, We The People. She has also been at the centre of a few controversies, having turned up in the Radia tapes allegedly brokering with politicians on behalf of a corporate lobbyist.

In a letter to the employees of NDTV, the company's founders announce that she will now be taking a consulting role at the TV channel, as well as setting up her own multi-media content company as well as a policy group. Here is the full text of the letter:
"Dear All

Barkha Dutt was only 23 when she joined NDTV as a young reporter cum producer. NDTV was the first place she ever worked in and for two decades we have seen her evolve into one of our most prolific reporters. She has been a key member of the NDTV family and a big part of our memorable journey from a  production house that created a nightly news bulletin for doordarshan to what we are today. She has worn many hats for NDTV: journalist, anchor, editor and NDTV has been both her learning ground and her second home.

Now twenty years later we wish her all the very best as she embarks on yet another role with us. Barkha will be moving to the role of Consulting Editor. She will remain as closely associated with NDTV as she has all these years as the anchor for Buck Stops Here on weeknights and We The People on weekends. She will also be available as always for analysis and inputs on big news events and stories. While her TV relationship with NDTV remains unchanged, in her new role she will be setting up her own multi media content company and policy group. We have literally seen barkha grow from a child to an adult professional and look forward to our close bonds only strengthening further as she embarks on this new venture.

I know you will join us in wishing Barkha the very very best.

Radhika and Prannoy"