Holier than thou!

That is what congress party tries to be, if in vain. Its power lies in its freindship with and management of media. The media management of the Congress undoubtedly is outstanding. Could it be from the old Russian training? Media, particularly the English media blatantly promotes Congress even in the time of elections and I don't think that all the surrogate advertising through organised blitzkrieg against opponents in the name of debates, commentaries etc. is anything short of breach of law that prohibits canvassing in the constituencies 48 hours before the polling begins. The television keeps blaring and sending open as well as subliminal messages that are motivated. Many people including myself suspect that there is more to media management than meets the eye. The media's honesty and nationalism is always a big question mark. One wonders about the possible corruption in the media and the play of money power or money and power in its management. The 4th estate may well have been the biggest bane of this fledgling democracy. The method is quite well recognised. The TV journos try to put their words in the mouths of opponents and if they fail to do so, they show fragments of sentences spoken by them and then take over with their own cues.

Recently I was watching an interview of Narendra Modi by Rahul of Headlines Today taken in an aircraft. It was probably 27th or 28h of April. Rahul tried all the tricks in the book to get Modi to say what he wanted him to. Modi called his bluff and said that he was not going to get it. Modi also said the media and the interviewer were going to edit the answers and add their own ideas and project them as those of Modi. That is exactly what Rahul did within minutes after the interview was over. It was indeed shameful. I am not for or against BJP. I am for the country so I may not be misunderstood by this example which is fresh in my mind just because I happened to watch the interview and then Rahuls's presentation of the news and a brief debate that followed. (I had to switch off the TV when Manu Singhvi arrived on the scene in the debate to avoid a sick feeling.) Rahul wanted Modi to ask the nation pardon for Post- Godhra. Modi said repeatedly that creating the model of pardon was incorrect and there should be no asking or giving of pardon. Their should be punishment according to law if anyone including Modi himself was found guilty of a crime. Rahul presented it as something that sounded like 'Modi does not repent and is not willing to accept his guilt and ask the nation's pardon'. (This has been the refrain in the entire English media eversince. Is it to help the Congress after canvassing closes?) This was as far away from the truth as is possible. But the public would not know that if they had not seen the whole interview. It was simply appalling. It left me wondering about the irresponsibility and insensitivity with which media was manipulating public opinion and the nation. Rahul and the channel should have been sued by Modi for this gross misrepresentation. The entire English media, especially India Today, Outlook, Headlines Today, Channel 18 group and NDTV are blatantly involved with a party and spread canard with a view to misleading people with an aggressively pro-Congress propaganda. Is the power of media in irresponsible hands fair? Should there not be laws against it? But that brings us to the next problem. They are above law just like the Netas are. They are arrogant and powerful because of the power they wield in terms of their reach and thus their opinion building capability. They are the Gods of politicians and therefore they can get away with anything at all. Is it not diffferent from freedom of expession?

As a thinking person and one who would place the nation above all other considerations, I have developed a healthy respect for M.J. Akbar for his balanced views and incisive analyses. He is the one nationalist journalist I can think of.

I sometimes wonder if there could be Post-Godhra if there were no Godhra? Can there be post-mortem without 'mortem'. (Modi or anyone in the political dispensations can't say that for fear of being politically incorrect. But can't media do that?) This is not to say whether it was right or wrong. That is something the people have decide by voting Modi to power. This is the same as the Congress having been voted to power after 1984 anti-Sikh riots that were much worse than the Gujarat in Godhra. In Delhi alone 3000 people were killed, tortured, shaved, torched! And the Prime Minister of India shamelessly propounded the physics of impact of the fall of a big tree. By contrast, Modi is not known to have ever justified the riots in Godhra. But the media is completely insensitive to this fact. I am from Aligarh, and as aboy I was witness to several riots. In those days also there used to be hushed talks of possible Congress hand behind the riots. RSS had been banned and was not there to do all that. No one has ever asked for an apology.

Even if we do not talk about the policies of appeasement demonstrated in myriad ways, but even in the legal system wherein we have special status of a state, special law for a community, and benefits for pilgrims and many other benefits to a community. I am not against it. I am against discrimination which gives voice to the 'appeasement' theory.

I remember that the lock of the masjid-temple in Ayodhya was ordered open by Rajiv Gandhi. I also remember that the place for Ram Lala the Ram chabutra was built under the personal supervision of Buta Singh who was close to the then prime minister and was a minister himself. The press would surely find the pictures of that momentous time in their archives. What moral high ground can Congress take on the temple matter having, in a way, laid the foundation for it themselves? But people don't remember all that. And media makes sure they never find out nor jolt their memory. Whom does it not suit? What are the allegiances? Is their a meaning to the stoic silence of English media in particular and the media in general? Is their a matter of vested interests? Why the ghost of Godhra keeps haunting the media and all the terrorist attacks, riots in Congress ruled states ever since independence never seems to be a matter of debate? They are holier than thou by all accounts of Congrss spokesmen on the TV. Godhra is new and all else is forgotten? Is this non-partisan? And is it healthy for the democracy? Should the media continue to inflame minority pasions and keep them inflamed day after day, year after year? Do they have the right to divide the nation? When is enough Enough? Have they ever aired or projected the views of Godhra and Gujarat Muslims who want to put it behind and get on with the task of building peace and harmony? Is the media saying there are no such Muslims? Are all Muslims interested in some kind of 'revenge' with possible resultant mayhem? I believe it is a false and very uncharitable view of the community by the media. In fact I know that a great deal of Muslims want peace and progres and are feeling secure enough. These muslims don't find a voice in the media. On the other hand in the present security scnario, no one in the country feels safe any more. Blasts in Guwahati at frighteneing frequency are a sombre reminder of the dangers lurking in 'safe' places of India. Not to mention the blasts that happened in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Malegaon, Hyderabad and many other places where innocent people kept dying when the political Neros were fiddling secure in their Z classs security paid for by us hapless, insecure citizens. And the huge tracts of land under Naxal control - who is answerable for that? Media does not seem to have a problem with the nation's real issues and that lends credence to the idea that they are playing a malicious role to the detriment of the nation and the democracy. I wish to say again that I am not against anyone and owe no allegiance to any party. I am pleading for the 4th estate to play its role that it legitimately must own in a democratic system. Like the Congress, the media is holier than thou! No wonder they are such good freinds.

The political system in the country is no longer conducive to democracy. The politicians keep demonising their opponents. Are thye going to turn it into 'demonocracy' one day? The system itself has become a demon that is cannibalising the democracy and the nation.