Editor,
Today we are fed up with political parties, especially the national parties, which are trading charges against each other with vitriolic overtones. The way they do it through the media is extraordinary. They have so much time to excel in this but no time to spread the message of brotherhood and amity. On the other hand the media faithfully carry such nonsense to be consumed by the readers. This is horrendous and highly unacceptable. Remember that the public cannot be taken for a ride and in fact very few people digest such divisive charges and accusations. In fact, it is the Congress and the BJP, which indulge in this grandstanding of holier than thou attitude accusing one another of spreading divisiveness and falsehood. They are the ones that are the source of divisiveness and falsehood. Since they are themselves divisive they spread divisiveness among the people but people detest them. The more they spread vitriolic divisiveness the more people distance themselves from them. We urge people to abhor such parties and lend their ears only to parties which promote truthfulness and amity among the people in the society. Because in the end those indulging in falsehood and divisiveness will be isolated.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Via email
Is media pampering minorities?
Editor,
If something makes one look at certain reputed media with the eyes of suspicion then it is for their blatant display of double standards. The integrity of the media then is greatly compromised. When such unethical tricks are played at the cost of humanity then the consequences could be disastrous. This could steadily push the society into the sea of frustration. Thereafter comes social anarchy.
This glaring aberration in the world of media is clearly visible. Only those suffering from a varying degree of mental glaucoma may fail to see it. Have we not witnessed the media fraternity setting off alarm bells when the victims of crime are from a particular community while they maintain a “brutal silence” when the perpetrators are those they considers minority? Yes, the particular minority are eternally beloved, so they are blameless. Even the traitorous terror-makers from the minority are unblemished to such media folks and a certain group of columnists associated with the media. That’s why such elite media and its associates zealously stand up to sympathise with terror-sponsored stone-pelters in Kashmir, a bunch of secessionists in the academia and so on and so forth.
No wonder one who sings Vande Mataram stands to lose the support base of such media, no matter how influential he is, no matter how dedicated and truthful he is. So, I humbly advise any active citizens, particularly those who want to serve the country, not to utter this jingoistic phrase when alone. Better not at all. On the other hand, if you roar – ‘Bharat ke tukde tukde’ or ‘Pakistan zindabad’, which are heard more aggressively and more frequently these days, then all defensive forces become hyperactive to safeguard you. These subversive activities by any brats will be soon celebrated and interpreted as a part of the fundamental right, that is ‘freedom of expression’. Have we not noticed in Kashmir where CRPF or other security personnel receive humiliating bashings, the video clips of which often go around on WhatsApp? And in case the bold security persons retaliate then those elites from their armchairs thunder that the democracy in the country is under threat? The majority are attacking the minority etc.!
I believe everyone knows how certain so-called student leaders often openly incite their unruly crowds at JNU and other academic institutes. But when the questions of sedition are raised against them then the media comes forward to denounce the government. Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Shehla Rashid Shora, Jignesh Mewani are loved by those intellectuals because their treacherous adventures make them more cheery and lustier.
Until some years ago these ruffians were non-entities but now they are held up as leaders and opinion makers. Many national political leaders as well jump to defend these troublemakers. But, on the other hand, the same warmth, attachment, and love are not showered upon any patriots by any mainstream media. So, citizens who want to sincerely endeavor to bring peace in the country are not at all given any platform, nor encouraged. Rather, those who love the nation are scoffed at. They are non-existent, nay subhuman to the pseudo-secularists. Of course, those people often branded as ‘bhakts’ are aptly dragged only to paint them with ugly colors.
This Republic day brought great grief to many. A 22 years old student – Chandan Gupta of Kasganj, UP, was heartlessly murdered. His crime being his participation in the ‘tiranga yatra’ singing Vande Mataram. Theer was no noticeable outcry of condemnation from any influential elites. Again, Ankit Saxena, a photographer who loved a Muslim girl, was attacked, and the girl’s relatives slit his throat in cold blood. Most of the media carried the news as “honour” killing as if it was in some way justified. What would have happened if the same heinous crime was perpetrated by someone from the majority community? It would have been Dadri-2. In another monstrous incident, a BJP party worker Santosh was stabbed to death in Karnataka. The killing of patriots is too frequent in Kerala. But no ‘award wapsi gang’ get freaked out at such news.
Such brutal attacks on the majority are a regular phenomenon. But what is “very less known” to the public is that over 95% of such gruesome attacks, and also various kinds of sexual atrocities upon females of the majority, are “not at all reported”. Only those which can’t be suppressed get published. But they usually die down well before the dead bodies begin to rot. No scream of criticism, no alarm of “intolerance” is ever raised by any conscious citizens when the people from the majority are killed. No media panel discussions are called as in other similar cases. Even the condemnation of the onslaught on humanity is ever heard. None of the horrid crimes by a particular community become a “Dadri” the stench of which is still being felt by our double standard columnists.
Well, had there not been double standards in reporting the attacks on “humanity:” if ever the ‘freedom of expression’ is truly valued, such barbaric perpetrators, no matter which community they are from, would not have at all reared their ugly heads. Is it not probable in the near future that those fanatic villains might “double-cross” and pose continuous threats that would be the death knell for the “service of upright journalism” too! The prelude to that situation is double clear now than ever before.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2