Television news channels have become the platforms, not for clarifying issues that plague the nation but for obfuscation and tongue lashing among fellow panelists even as verbal darts are thrown at the anchor. No one emerges any wiser after watching these television debates. Discussions demand a certain decorum and healthy respect for the views of others. In the recent tussle between Arvind Kejriwal and the Delhi Government vide the CBI raid on the former’s office, the two most vociferous supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Ashutosh and Ashish Khetan both former journalists have taken debates to a despicable level. Firstly they level charges at all the panelists and the anchor. Then they don’t allow anyone else to talk! An American journalist visiting the country said the Indian television media is cacophonous and uncouth where people indulge in slanging matches. Is this what the Indian media has come to?
About the differences of opinion between the Centre and the states, this is not unusual in a federal structure. Chief Ministers have walked out of the National Development Council or Inter State Council protesting against the Centre’s treatment of their states. Chief Ministers of states not ruled by the Party at the Centre often accuse the latter of using the CBI as a weapon against them. Former CBI director Ranjit Sinha had described the agency as a ‘caged parrot.’ The CBI clearly is not an autonomous agency and the party in power controls it. Hence Arvind Kejriwal’s tantrums about the CBI raid in his office being politically motivated are not misplaced. Although the CBI was quick to rebut that they were searching the offices of his Principal Secretary, Rajendra Kumar because of a complaint against him, Kejriwal believes this is a sinister move to dig up dirt on him. He also claimed that the CBI was looking for files pertaining to the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) which names Arun Jaitley. Naturally the BJP rubbished these allegations!
What is unfortunate is that Arvind Kejriwal had bad-mouthed the Prime Minister of the country, calling him a ‘psychopath” and ‘coward. The basic decorum of politics are thrown to the winds. This is Kejriwal’s style of functioning. He cries foul over everything and his fight with the Centre has been constant. He has accused Centre of trying to run Delhi by proxy through Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung. He has taken pot shots at officials, the media, the police and the BJP.
Kejriwal wants complete control of Delhi but it remains essentially a Union Territory despite having an elected chief minister and a legislature. Until this issue is addressed much time will be wasted in political bickering.
