Media prides
itself in doing a scrupulous task in presenting to its viewers and readers the
content which keeps them lettered and guides them to an informed judgment. While
the vigilance administered by the media is often criticized for being immoderately
incisive, but surprisingly its selective standards of scrutiny largely goes
unnoticed. More than anything else, media needs to shed hypocrisy.
For quite some
time now, media has devoted considerable amount of time and ink in presenting
to us all the facets of incumbent Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. While
Media’s fascination and interest is understandable, given the fact that many
believe him to be the prime minister in waiting, it is the choice of content
and absence of equivalent interest in any other incumbent or other plausible
prime ministerial candidates, which is incomprehensible.
As modi’s
establishment boasts about remarkable growth rate, economic freedom,
international accolades on reconstruction and development, record agricultural
production, turnaround of the tourism industry etc. Media misses no opportunity
to point out its traditional, all time hit rebuttal about 2002 riots. The variety of information which media deems
it fit to telecast or publish to bring the point home is revealing. Evidence,
facts, judicial pronouncements, testimony of convicts, lengthy investigative reports,
and statistics are considered almost irrelevant in demonstrating his direct or
indirect involvement in the pogrom. Want of proof which even cast a suspicion
on his involvement has driven media intellectual frenzy.
Resultantly, every
obscure detail about him has attracted the attention regardless of its
relevance. Modi’s refusal to wear a skull cap becomes an undeniable proof of
his communal mindset. His donning of a saffron coloured kurta will only further corroborate it. He having only regretted
the holocaust and not tendered a personal apology will then form a piece of
clinching evidence. Columnists thinks it entirely reasonable to translate his
poetry (which is originally written to Gujarati) in to English to peep into his
mind and thereby in to his ability to govern.
And just when
they were running out of required rhetoric; it floated new standards of
assessment which is designed to indicate repulsive side of his character.
Viewers and readers are informed repeatedly about his succinctly knitted kurta
from one of the most expensive shop in Ahmadabad and his precisely trimmed
beard, his tendency to get photographed every now and then, his obsession with
excessive marketing of his work. We are then informed as to how his choice of
vocabulary reflects unpleasant face of his personality; viz..’mataye
aur behne (mothers and sisters)’ undoubtedly indicating his conservative
mindset; ‘upvaas instead of anshan’(meaning ‘fast on personal
reasons’ and ‘fast for a cause’), showing his lack of understanding; ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ in speeches,
demonstrating authoritarianism. Historians, civil society activists, marxist
intellectuals, former judges have come to media’s rescue and have enriched it
with such theories. Euphemisms,
metaphors, are used by them almost routinely to reflect upon his ‘dreadful’
image. Parallels of his persona with historical hate figures are drawn
effortlessly.
While it is
disastrous to draw monumental conclusions from isolated facts, media with the
help of its ‘liberal brigade’ have drawn conclusions from absolute no facts
without slightest hesitation.
And precisely
when this mindless outpouring is going on, media finds it of no relevance to
fill up the vacuum of information on the other side. Media simply makes no
effort to find out the actual educational qualification and alleged
mis-declaration of the same by the person who has served as the president of
the single largest party for fifteen years and is the chairman of the incumbent
ruling alliance for nine years now - Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. It is considered
absolutely understandable that even after twenty three years she is not made to
answer by any government agency or anyone for that matter on bofors howlitzer
scam of which her husband-the then prime minister was in the dock. Her relation
with the Italian middlemen and absconding scam kingpin Ottavio Quatrocchi becomes
a dead issue.
No damage is
done and no investigation is initiated even when her son-in-law is found
indulging in countless financial irregularities leading to the establishment of
a gigantic business empire in a record time of ten years. It is considered entirely
reasonable that she need not give reason to the people on why this businessman
is also exempted from frisking at all Indian airports by way of government
order. In a government where she behaves like a super prime minister and where
scams after scams involving trillions of dollars keep on unravelling scalding
almost everyone associated with the government, Mrs. Gandhi escapes even the
slightest dose of inspection, leave alone full-fledged investigations. Her effrontery
receives no attention from the media or intellectuals.
Equally unnecessary
is for the media to even peruse through the draft ‘communal violence bill’ -
the most ridiculous piece of legislating drafted by National Advisory Council
of which she is the Chairman. The unprecedented politically convenient and
administratively ridiculous model of governance comprising of dual power
centres which gives her all the power with zero accountability and makes a
mockery of democracy also fails to raise any eyebrows. While modi’s development
claims immediately finds lengthy counters indicating that there is enough left
to do in interms of malnutrition, human development etc. and when even his
twenty four hour electricity supply in eighteen thousand villages fails to
receive the desired accreditation, Mrs. Gandhi’s record as a member of parliament
and as an administrator for straight nine years of one of the most backward
district in the country invites no analysis. Media’s sense of reverence for
Mrs. Gandhi appears to have no parallel.
Her party’s
policy of going extra soft on millions of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and
by allowing subversive legislative and administrative mechanism to facilitate
their stay despite it being manifest threat to the national security also fails
to raise even a suspicion about her own secular credentials and her allegiance
to the nation. But no one dares to point a finger even when the situation swells
out of control and ultimately culminates into communal riots. Foreseeability of
the riots and non-action are again obviously not discussed.
Her ludicrous
choice of phrases like, “we should attack and not be on the defensive”( as a
response to CAG’s report on coal scam), “let them ask” (as a response to
oppositions’ demand of resignation pursuant to coal scam), “rahul ka sapna” (as
a comment on the constitutional amendment motion on lokpal bill) and “power is
poison” (while apparently bequeathing her share of power to her son)
surprisingly invites no media scrutiny whatsoever. When modi’s vocabulary is subjected to
heavy-duty vivisection, Mrs. Gandhi’s unimpressive speeches in rally are
received with extraordinary grace.
No efforts are
being made to find the truth- to peep into her mind, her stand on critical
issues. The issue is not even broached up. Her persona which heavily relies on
‘mystery branding’ is allowed to sustain. Her rule is almost considered as
‘given’ when media is not even interested in knowing her opinion on the
economic, political and social problems affecting India or in evaluating the
consequences of such absence of opinion, leave alone the ability to implement
it. Nothing, absolutely nothing is somehow capable of sullying her image.
Media’s silence
is more than telling. People are made to digest that the ‘queen’ can do no
wrong!
