By Quamar Ashraf
Besides making strong comments against BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUP), the Supreme Court also expressed deep concern over the role of media in this context. It asked: “What is the business of the TV channel to discuss the matter which is sub-judice, except to promote an agenda?” Pathetically, the news channels continue to promote the agenda of a certain party by dividing people along communal lines, recklessly and shamelessly.
With little resistance from any quarters – notably from any low enforcing agencies – the television news media openly violate all the established ethics and law of the land. It has become the “prime source” of hate mongering. Various reports in this regard have raised concern over the declining standard of Indian media with many making scathing attacks on the current regime for taking action against journalists critical of the Narendra Modi government’s policies and practices. Only recently, India fell eight places in the World Press Freedom Index, down to 150 out of 180 countries.
Indian television news channels are foolishly resetting or building narrative to suit the proponents of aggressive nationalism who aspire to establish a Hindu Rashtra. Since the Hindu-Muslim binary benefits the BJP electorally, the media keep forwarding the same. However, Muslims, communists, rationalists all are being treated as enemies of India.
The TV new studios have long become the epicentre of hate where a set of panellists engage in ‘friendly fights’ every evening. And the Muslims are on the line of fire, often. The TV anchors are so obsessed with Muslims that they simply cannot afford to hold a debate without inviting at least one Muslim in their shows. You will find any skull-cap mullah smirking and trying to sermonize about something in which Muslims are not involved at all. The phenomenon continues unabated. It is beyond redemption, now.
Very few independent journalists are left in the television media. The few who still appear in the idiot box have chosen to take a back seat. It is not that the television media had a glorious past and that it deteriorated following the ascendance of Modi on the national scene. The situation was not much different earlier also. However, what we see today is not poor journalism; but a sheer hate campaign being run against the Muslim minority round the clock – ostensibly at the behest of the people in power. Several anchors have either rescinded or took to YouTube to satisfy their journalistic whims; many faced action. Alt News co-founder Zubair Ahmed is the latest example.
Indeed, it is not easy being a journalist in New India.
Paranoia, thy name is Islamist; or is it the other way around?
Seriously, one has to admire the Islamists for weaponizing faux victimhood most effectively.