Barbar Indian says India needs a Right wing TV channel in the context of Narendra Modi walking out of Karan Thapar’s show. I’ve mentioned several times that the concept of "right wing" is both inappropriate and misleading in the Indian context. What I would rather advocate is an entirely unbiased media house.
Reality Check’s excellent post on this issue is bang on target.
I have said many times in the past, I continue to be amazed by how BJP leaders like Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arun Jaitley, Rudy, do not respond when a Congress leader or a media anchor refers to Gujarat as a genocide, pogrom, (and more recently a holocaust). They do not even respond when Congress spokesperson like Smt Jayanthi Natarajan call Modi and even Advani guilty of this genocide. Their defence mechanism it simply to bring up the anti-Sikh riots. This is as-if two wrongs make a right.
What the BJP–in fact, all Hindu groups–continues to do is to play the game by the rules their adversaries have set. The moment somebody affixes an ugly label, the burden of proof falls on them to prove they are right. But the BJP bends backwards to prove their secular credentials–secular, in the Indian context.
Narendra Modi seems to be a welcome exception from that self-defeating habit as Reality Check perceptively observes.
Unfortunately, Modi does not seem to be from that stock.
This is only too evident in the history that followed the Gujarat riots. Modi has damned all his critics to earn the praise that seems to be coming to him from all quarters, especially for his work on the economic front. That understandably frustrates the secular brigade, which seems to be lodged forever in 2002. Which is also why any mention of Gujarat and Modi in the media seems to reverberate with only negative noises. There’s also a more sinister angle to this. The Indian media, which is usually careful about defaming others is quick to pass judgment where Gujarat is concerned. It’d rather authenticate manufactured myths like the Banerjee report than believe in something called objectivity. Again, as Reality Check observes:
To call him a mass murderer on national television (even if couched in an indirect reference) - could be considered to be defamatory in nature.[...] Let us come back to the ‘mass murderer’ part. Modi has not been convicted of mass murder, nor are people calling it to his face as claimed by Karan Thapar. Do hosts in other countries throw such questions at their guests ? Can Larry King ask George Bush if he is responsible for the heartless murder of gullible young American soldiers in Iraq and ask him to respond ? No, this is serious defamation. They would have a libel case on their hands in no time.
Most such media interviews in India come with a preset agenda. Any interview with people like Modi has a fundamental undercurrent, nay assumption: the person is anti-secular. The rest of the interview is basically an elaborate attempt to get the person to somehow agree to this (anti-secular) conclusion. Karan Thapar’s repeated attempts to drag Modi back to admitting that he was a mass murderer/responsible for the riots are pretty evident. This exchange stands out as a rather sad commentary against Thapar. He is almost begging Modi:
Karan Thapar: Why can’t you say that you regret the killings that happened. Why can’t you say may be the government should have done more to protect them?
Narendra Modi: What I had to say I have said at that time and you can find out my statements.
Karan Thapar: Just say it again.
Narendra Modi: Not necessary. I have to talk about in 2007 everything you want to talk about.
This reminds of a similar interview where Jayalalithaa ripped Thapar apart.
Tags: Commentary, Indian Politics, Media Watch, Pseudo Secularism Hall of Shame, Society & Culture, War on Communism, Weblogs
too true! i’m glad Modi stood up for himself. But the silver lining is that the English ’secular’ media can bark away for all the good it’ll do them. Gujratis do not and will not get swayed by what the likes of Karn thapar, Burkhs Dutt et all think or say.
I think Thapar and CNN-IBN are extremely lucky that Modi is too much of a gentleman to sue them for libel and slander.
Bal Thackrey once asked Karan Thappar - “Are you MY advocate? Why should i answer you?”
lol - that was vintage Thackrey.
BTW, Modi did the right thing. IBN is a Congress sponsored news channel, run by the Modi hater Sardesai and his wife Sagarika-pseduo-secular-Ghost.
Without giving it back to him, he just discontinued the interview. May be his isn’t Thackrey after all.
Thackeray is a bad example to follow. It’s not as if he himself was accomodating of dissent. There was a time his statements had a certain “sex appeal”…macho..but soon began to fall flat. Sounded overly arrogant. What a contrast to his father..Prabhondhankar. That was a man who encouraged friendly debates between his son and his pal George Fernandes.
Thapar is lousy. Easy to lambast. This lout loves his own voice and you almost fear his stiffness will lead him to a bout of fits! Will never allow his own guest to speak. On that…he is on near similar plane with Rajdeep.
On H-Vadis not being able to defend even their defensible actions/policies and also not being able ward off utter lies…must be the saddest chapter in the book of 20th Century Idiocies!
RSS killed Gandhi *God knows what happened to their defamation suite against Arjun Singh* Lethargy!
RSS planned partition time mass killings of Muslims. *Based on a trunk full of evidence.Maps and all. That trunk is also lost*
Advani was part of a “Kill Jinnah” plot.*Can even be intellectually defended*
Nazi inspiration for the RSS.
Moonje liaised with the Italian Fascists. *Based on a day’s (week’s?)stopover in Rome*
Savarkar masterminded Gandhi’s killing. *Although…I would not bet my life on refuting this charge..there is no evidence* Circumstantial(?)
And so on and so forth…
Is there need for a “Right Wing” media? Of course there is! People must be presented with choices. Let them decide. Also, there is no such thing as “an entirely unbiased media house.” Even if these “houses” start that way…it takes only a little time for them to succumb. If not to outside pressure..then to their own whims and fancies. And..what is this “unbiasdness” anyways?
Palahalli,
Okay with most of what you’ve said.
At one level, you’re right that it can’t be realistic to expect an entirely unbiased media house. I should’ve phrased it differently but I thought it was obvious what I meant.
By unbiased I mean any media house which doesn’t give the other side any chance to speak. Isn’t happening now.
That is “unbiasedness” for you, my friend.
Excellent post, Sandeep.
Regarding “right wing media”, the Pioneer comes fairly close (to my eyes, it comes as balanced…LOL).
But if you see any reference of the Pioneer in the “secular” mainstream media, it is as “the BJP mouthpiece, Pioneer”. If the Pioneer becomes the BJP mouthpiece, then why isnt anyone referring to the Outlook as the Congress mouthpiece or the Hindu as the Left mouthpiece?
Sandeep…guess you meant “any media house which DOES give…”
Yes..I agree. And such things are easily verifiable too
As much as i hate to agree with p-hali, the fact is H-vadis are lame when it comes to defending.
But in this case Modi was not lame. He took the best route possible. He has an election to fight unlike Thackrey who does not directly fight elections. Also Modi is under intense media scrutiny and any thing he says (or mostly does not say) is blown out of proportion.
Secondly there is a very lopsided reporting in India.
For example IBN is carrying out the “gutter” story as if BJP started it all.
I think a time will eventually come when H-vadis will just get fed up with Karan Thapars and Sardesais and will probably bash them in live studios. That shud be fun
Gee thanks Anonymous
I agree with Ravindra.
I also agree with Sandeep, that we need Right wing Media.
The media discusses a topic, and does not allow the party concerned to speak, and allows all the time in world to speak the opponents.
It still beats why we dont have strong right wing media in India. The absence gives a lot of freedom to leftist and pseudo-seculars to dominate the media and demonise even the most mildly ringht wing views. Latest example is SCs ruling on compulsorily registering marriages in all communities. Already Muslim Personal Law Board has objected to it. I am sure the media will never give this topic due importance and will just brush it under the rug
Mark my words - there will be a time when these beggars like Karan Thapar get thrashed black and blue by the public. There is only a limit to tolerance and it’s been reached pretty quickly.
Without Narendra Modi controlling Gujarat, I wonder how many more terrorist attacks would have rocked North India. Gujarat is a hotbed of Islamic extremism thanks to Pakistani infiltration and it’s only Modi who’s kept things under control over there.
When Hindus are killed in scores, it’s OK of course because it’s an act of terror without any religious affliliations but when a few muslims get killed it automatically becomes a “communal” issue. Typical.
“Mark my words - there will be a time when these beggars like Karan Thapar get thrashed black and blue by the public. There is only a limit to tolerance and it’s been reached pretty quickly.”
- And then what?
Having read the above, I think India needs honest and truthful media more so than right wing. Media seem to be too willing to play party tune without regard to the facts. I thought media in India is vibrant and free and am surprised that divergent views are not getting sufficient coverage.
Narendra Modi who talks so much about Gujarat’s Pride did not even last 5 minutes in the interview.
Who are we to blame Karan Thapar ? Ever so many politician’s have stayed, endured or fought back verbally to all his questions…. why did Narendra Modi run away ? …. and how does that now make him into a hero !
Sir,
The more I watch the debates, etc, etc covered by different media channels, i get convinced that the electronic media is biased towards the Congress, whether they are in power or sitting in the opposition.
These days one can see states like MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar in the lime light. You get me Steve ……………?
I can write thesis on the bunglings of the Congress and yet may not live to see the changes taking place. A few cases aspects are:-
The Partition?
Who is responsible for the neglect of the North East region. After independence, it was the one of the region responsible for earning foreign exchange through tea, manganease, etc etc.
Who ruled Andhra Pardesh for 35 years without any progress?
Who ruled UP, on occassions with 2/3rd majority. Where does UP stand today?
Punjab has been “No 1 State” for past 5 years. What are the ground realities? Pl see the quality of education facilities, number of EDUCATED migrating to Punjab vis a vis number migrating out of Punjab. I believe that Rs 800 cr over past 10-15 years by the NRIs to set up hospitals in rural Punjab. NO Govt, whether Congress or Akali’s took efforts to ensure manning by competant personnel.
So much has been said about the Gujarat riots, but WHY THE SILENCE on the 1984 events.
ARE YOU AWARE THAT between Rae Bareilley and Amethi, there have been so many FOUNDATION STONES laid, that these would actually be enough to construct a small sized house/building.
The list goes on and on.
My humble request is the PLEASE FOR HEAVEN SAKE POST THE CORRECT AND UNBIASED PICTURE.
YOU OWE THE NATION A LOT. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY YOU HAVE A STRONG BEARING ON THE BEHAVIOIUR - RATIONAL/IRRATIONAL of the MAN in the STREET.
Regards
Jinn
PS
On the point i have raised, I am prepared to have a debate on the topic.
Jinn
I agree with GS Nijjar, but nothing will happen untill there is a right wing TV Channel.
And our rightist want to keep away from publicity. Who can help ?
http://www.indiaright.org/
India’s rightwing media has arrived.
Spread the word around.