When instead of questions you ask for a selfie…

Indian media is increasingly losing its hold on the popular narrative like it used to hold before the new government headed by Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014. In fact, Modi after taking oath of office said how he will set the narrative in times to come and not the media like it used to until then. And if one looks back, he has succeeded in his goal all the way. In fact it is not just the leader but also the machinery behind him that has kept the narrative moving. Media has essentially been reduced to just being a timid spectator — side note. It is no more setting the agenda or driving the debate but meekly following what it is being told to. It is no more disturbing or asking question from the government but increasingly becoming its mouthpiece.

Media has essentially been reduced to just being a timid spectator — side note.

There are press conferences happening (albeit rarely), speeches from leaders (happening very often) and media is reporting them (most of the times live) without mention of a critical comment or the essential job of fact-checking. The stupid schemes (like anti-romeo squads) and brazen disrespect for democratic processes (like passing of Finance bill as Money Bill) is all pushed down under our throats without remorse or slightest cringe to their duty towards citizenry. Debates have been reduced to slug fest. They don’t care anymore for the right news, all they care is who shouts it first from their studios. For instance the recent ‘arrest’ of Vijay Mallya — Media almost had their premature ejaculation covering his ‘arrest’ and praising the government while Liquor baron tweeted the following.

The nuances, facts, real processes on ground everything goes out of roof in media’s constant struggle to get things first rather than get it right. Take for instance the episode of singer Sonu Nigam who tweeted,

4 tweets in span of few minutes. But only his first and last (which roughly translates to ‘this is simply hooliganism nothing more’) were picked by our media to stroke a controversy where there was none. I say, there was no controversy because what he said was nothing new. We all complain about loudspeakers very often — about mosques, temples, Ganesh Utsav pandals, marriage band baajaas etc.. In fact there are Supreme Court guidelines on permitted hours and decibels while using loudspeakers — none of which are followed in India. What was essentially a civic complaint was beaten to pulp and made into a religious one. Then there was a stupid fatwa from a cleric known to jump in at times like this to grab his two-minute fame on television and subsequent shaving of head by Sonu Nigam himself — all devotedly covered by our media. Why? Did we not have other pressing issues? Was this worthy of continuous three days of coverage?

What was essentially a civic complaint was beaten to pulp and made into a religious one.

Media has in all sincerity lost its game. They have essentially become mouthpieces of corporations that provide them their ads (and grease their machinery) or of people in power. They no more serve the public. And this is not to imply that they used to serve the public (and nobody else) before Modi came to power. No. They did this mashup then as well but there was certain amount of honor and respect still intact then; there were stories critical of government which were still playing, there were questions being asked from people in power — all has taken beating now.

Let’s for instance quickly see at recently passed and very much controversial Finance Bill and TRP’licious Gau-Raksha vigilante force who are beating people red and blue. What media did and what they could have done to drive the narrative in the interests of people at large.

Cow Vigilantes

If you are living under a rock and have never heard of them, these are the ‘jobless’ men waving lathis (bamboo sticks) of height equal to their heights and roaming around the streets in search of people to beat. Essentially their targets are people from minority communities (read Muslims) but there are instances where they have even beaten members from their own community too. What is their problem? Oh well, in the more aptly called cow-belt they are looking for people who are indulged in the business of cow slaughtering. In their rage they have beaten people with valid licenses to transport cattle from one place to another as well. Most of this instances get wide coverage in the media and for anyone with liberal views who believe in harmonious existence would be annoyed and disgusted of their existence. But what media doesn’t understand is that majority of the people buy existence and validity of these goons, there is serious and real problem of illegal cattle smuggling which for long time our system have failed to resolve and people who support them think this is the solution. So mere reporting the incidents won’t solve this mess. Media needs to do their job with some passion. They need to travel beyond the AC studios and stop relying on wire services like ANI and PTI alone. They should show on screen the images of cattle feeding on plastic, cattle left loose on night street putting their life at danger from speeding vehicles, old cows left to fend for themselves, and also they have to show more of stings where these thugs have been caught on camera ‘settling’ deals where they leave the smugglers those who can pay them their cuts loose — All in all the lid on the hypocrisy of their existence needs to be pulled out for everyone to see. Cow vigilantes or anti-romeo squads have no place in a civilized society. They can exist as police informants but can’t be an illegal extension of police force themselves. Their rise and approval from general crowd shows not their efficiency but failure of the state machinery especially police force. Media needs to point this rabid truth more vigorously.

Cow vigilantes or anti-romeo squads have no place in a civilized society. They can exist as police informants but can’t be an illegal extension of police force themselves. Their rise and approval from general crowd shows not their efficiency but failure of the state machinery especially police force.

Finance Bill.

Do you know that India is a democracy? The largest one at that? Do you know what keeps the engine of democracy running? Do you know what rule of democracy means? People increasingly mistake democracy for rule of the majority. Democracy doesn’t mean the rules will be framed according to the majority, to say ‘this is opinion of the majority and thus should be a law’ is outright misunderstanding of what democracy means. That is a majoritarian regime not democratic one. Democracy doesn’t care if the opinion is popular or not, it cares if it is just or not. And to achieve such a just society that respects one and all, to bring out laws that are in favor of all and not alone the majority, democracy requires the grease of debates and discussions. That is the reason why democracies have parliament houses for their members to discuss, debate and arrive at decisions or laws for their masses. But recently this very parliament headed by PM Modi who entered the same structure by bowing his head in respect, let his minister pass a law with numerous amendments to previous laws in such a way so as not to allow any discussion at all. What were these laws? Here’s a quick glance from a must read piece by Meghnad S on Newslaundry.com.

The Bill gives holymotherofgod super powers to Income Tax officials. Now the officers can enter any property and search any person without giving any real reason as to why they are doing so. The Bill enables anybody to donate to political parties anonymously using a new instrument called “Electoral Bonds”. Donations from foreign sources, if any, will also be anonymous. Earlier there was a cap on how much donations a company can give to a political party. That cap has been removed. Aadhaar Cards will be mandatory for filing income tax returns. What’s more, if a person does not link his/her PAN card with their Aadhaar, the PAN will be rendered invalid after July 1, 2017. This bill merges together eight different tribunals into other existing ones. Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies which exist for dispute resolution. Earlier, the way in which members of these tribunals are chosen was done in different ways & governed by separate laws. Some required recommendations from the judiciary, some were chosen by a special steering committee etc. Now, with the new Finance Bill that’s been passed yesterday (March 22, 2017), the Centre can choose the members through a simple gazette notification.

Almost 35 laws were amended with this one bill. Yes, you heard it right. Thirty Five. You can find the quick list of which and which here. The big problem is not this change of laws; laws have always been changed as time has flown by. But the brazen manner in which they were changed. Like NL team pointed out in above piece,

Being a money bill — another contentious issue — it cannot be rejected or amended by the Rajya Sabha which means it is virtually impossible to challenge its provisions. The government’s approach to amend these laws prompted Premachandran to sarcastically question why every legislation isn’t added to the Finance Bill and passed.

All this occurred in house which was shown live on Loksabha and Rajyasabha TV (channels which are hardly seen by local population) but no media covered the same. What were they covering then? They were covering what Yogi ji (recent CM of Uttar Pradesh, an important state by electoral gains) eats for breakfast, how he maintains his hair short, how he loves his dog, what does he do in the morning etc etc but no time was spared to discuss the Finance Bill! We were told, Finance bill was passed today. What does that meant, what just got changed, how it was passed, nothing was covered. Nothing. Why?

What does reporting on Finance bill means? It means discussing it, that is to tell the audience how it was passed, what provisions were changed, what new law were introduced and how all this changes affect the general public. Above all their validity and the need to escape from a much needed debate. And to discuss all this means to ask questions of our dear leader, yes, of Narendra Modi. And that is unheard of in today’s TV studios. So the best option to avoid this blasphemy of hurting one’s leader was to beat the Yogi chariot down our idiot boxes.

There is so much more that media ignores most of the times deliberately for reasons it best knows itself. There is so much it could do but so little it does. People who blindly follow their leader, inside media houses and outside, need to understand one holy truth, that governments change, Modi and Manmohans come and go but the rules they bring in, the ways they adopt them remain for posterity. And that’s why you need to look for their flaws and that doesn’t mean you love your leaders any less; all it means is you care for your people and this nation more than any one individual.

Here’s leaving you with this small video clip below. Thanks for reading so far. Don’t forget to press the heart and also share with your network. It means a lot to me and helps other people to discover it.

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