Ranjan Srivastava
Was Leader Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s visit to trouble-torn Manipur a drama?
This question arises from a national TV news channel’s prime time debate headlined ‘Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur- politics or drama?’ Though the headline elicited a sharp reaction from Congress leaders and resulted in the TV channel being trolled heavily on social media, prompting it to drop the headline, yet again there was a debate if the mainstream media is fair in its approach towards the main Opposition party Congress and its leaders particularly Rahul Gandhi.
One should not forget that it was only a month ago when majority of national newspapers and TV channels in their exit polls predicted more than 350 seats for the NDA and 100-130 seats for INDIA block in the Lok Sabha polls. Three of the pollsters went to the extent of claiming the NDA would cross 400 votes that was in sync with the BJP’s oft-repeated slogan- Abki baar 400 paar. But there was technically hung parliament and BJP had to be content with 240 seats. Congress alone got 99 seats and INDIA block got more than 230 seats.
Congress leaders often say that had it not been the Godi media’s propaganda and misuse of Central government’s agencies like ED, CBI and Income Tax department BJP’s strength in Lok Sabha would have been reduced to below 200 seats and majority for INDIA bloc.
Incidentally, when the TV channel was running the show on Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur Congress’ national spokesperson Alok Sharma was also taking part in the programme. He objected to the news channel’s headline after which the headline was replaced with a new one. The anchor Anjana Om Kashyap admitted that that was goof-up in running the headline.
Congress leaders ask if the TV channel has courage to ask the Prime Minister Narendra Modi why he preferred not to visit Manipur despite the fact the state had been burning in violence for more than a year and if the channel would run the same headline for the PM if he chooses to visit the state anytime.
Why this headline or behaviour?
It seems like the ruling party the mainstream media too has not been able to digest the fact that BJP has been relegated to 240 seats and INDIA bloc is a formidable Opposition this time which set its tone to oppose the government’s policies in the very first session of the parliament after the elections.
There are anchors on TV channels who unabashedly target the Opposition but choose to keep mum on issues like Chandigarh mayor election scam, naked parade of women in Manipur, violence over there for more than a year, electoral scam etc. as a result of which the TV channels are losing their credibility and social media influencers and free media journalists on YouTube are getting more and more prominence in public.
It was only four months back when News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) issued seven orders directing news channels like News 18 India, Times Now Navbharat and Aaj Tak to take down certain videos from their websites and YouTube. NBDSA found that certain shows of these TV channels spread hatred and communal disharmony while violating code of ethics and guidelines on racial and religious harmony.
Also, a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh was imposed upon Times Now Navbharat and Rs 50,000 upon News 18 India. The commission issued a warning to Aaj Tak.
But this has hardly prevented the TV channels from furthering their agenda. It’s high time the programmes of TV news channels are scrutinized closely and round the clock and harsh action be taken against them in case of violation of code of ethics and indulgence in spreading of hatred and communal disharmony.