Journalism, today has become a happy-go-lucky business. Most of the established media networks have taken a fancy to singing paeans of the powers-that-be, with only occasional, soft-touch criticism. In the process, they miss the wood for the trees, harp on what’s inconsequential and turn a Nelson’s Eye to serious issues. Under the Modi dispensation, most media establishments that once targeted him have softened their stances and subsequently changed their tune. They either remain silent to the perceived flaws of the political establishment or beat around the bush. Truth, for the most part, is now a casualty. It is against this backdrop that one tends to see the Assam Police’s summons issued to two veteran media personalities, Siddarth Varadarajan and Karan Thapar. Stunningly, the police have not gone on record to state as to what wrong the above two senior media persons have committed. Their plea for a copy of the FIR has not been responded too. What’s stated vaguely is that the summons related to an article on Operation Sindoor and that the case has been filed under section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The section pertains to actions that promote enmity between different groups, or publishing false or misleading information jeopardizing the sovereignty, unity, integrity and security of the nation etc. The scribes responded to the summons by stating that the Supreme Court has granted them interim protection from arrest. The Assam Police was unruffled. It went one step ahead and issued another summons to them. As the scribes point out, the failure on the part of the police to attach a copy of the FIR is in itself a serious violation of rules. This means the cops, or the high and mighty engaged in shadow-boxing, have much to hide. A question is, why such a provocation against the two senior scribes who have decades of respectable professional engagement behind them. The Wire with which they are associated with, is among the few journals that showed the courage to criticise the establishment.
The integrity of these professionals is beyond a shadow of doubt. For both Varadarajan and Thapar, issues mattered most. Notably, every media establishment in this country eulogized the way the Indian military acted, overall, in a brave and effective manner during Operation Sindoor. They made the nation proud. However, it is a moot point whether the political leadership deserved such praise. The claim that this Operation “has not stopped” could itself be a ploy on the part of the Government to keep mouths shut – on the premise that internal criticism is not advisable in times of war. Also, the case filed by the Assam Police on a matter of national significance looks odd – in that it did not originate from the national capital. What this entire rigmarole appears to be is that any adverse remarks on Operation Sindoor is construed as seditious. The attempt of the NDA Government is to muzzle the media, covertly at first and now overtly and the Assam Chief Minister is acting as the chief trouble-shooter for the ruling establishment. This is a perilous path that our political masters must eschew.
