10-31-2007, 01:16 AM
Pioneer, Op_Ed , 31 Oct., 2007
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Journalism's 'Kalank'
Second Opinion: BK Verma
This refers to the articles, <b>"Will stingers be stung" by Chandan Mitra, "Gujarat has outgrown riots" by Swapan Dasgupta, and "Half truths don't help Muslims" by Kanchan Gupta (October 28).</b> For full two days certain television news channels, whose propensity to demonise the BJP and anything connected with Hinduism is well known, went to town claiming to have discovered the "Gujarat Dangon Ka Sach" (truth behind the Gujarat riots), in their "sansanikhez khulasa" (sensational exposé).
These programmes made snide remarks on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's "direct involvement" in engineering the post-Godhra violence and shielding the culprits. In the event, the screaming headlines at the bottom of the screen proved to be longer than the sketchy visuals. The flavour that they served was insipid and flat. <b>The 'evidence' that they so bombastically presented, turned out to be the statements of some windbags, who simply bragged about their misdeeds. It was at best a hearsay evidence, which no court would take cognisance of in the absence of collaborative or documentary evidence.</b>
The programmes showed nothing new. Not an iota of evidence was proffered that would prove the Chief Minister's involvement in the post-Godhra violence. The three articles referred to above have ripped apart their claims of clean and ethical journalism. <b>From the analyses in the above articles motives of the stingers become amply clear.</b>
<b>First,</b> a reporter who was sent to mount an operation on Mr Modi's involvement in "fake encounters" has admitted that it was after that attempt failed that Tehelka fell back on the 2002 violence in Gujarat. <b>Second</b>, these 'shocking revelations' do not add to the bulk of what has been alleged earlier and the accused are already facing trial. <b>Third</b>, the revelations were aired within days of the Prime Minister calling the violence "Holocaust". <b>Fourth</b>, the timing of the revelations also is questionable -- just prior to the Assembly election in the State. <b>Last,</b> the matter is already sub judice so the evidence should have been presented in the court.
It was sad that journalism has now become an instrument of political manipulation. Now, hidden cameras are used, call girls are employed, liquor served, cash offered and interviews are managed on false pretence. The much touted "Operation Kalank" has further maligned this profession.
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Looks like MMS had Gujarat on his mind while he was whining about the deal and coalition govts. lack of effectiveness. It cant be too coincidental. I think he hides his politics well behind academic cloak.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Journalism's 'Kalank'
Second Opinion: BK Verma
This refers to the articles, <b>"Will stingers be stung" by Chandan Mitra, "Gujarat has outgrown riots" by Swapan Dasgupta, and "Half truths don't help Muslims" by Kanchan Gupta (October 28).</b> For full two days certain television news channels, whose propensity to demonise the BJP and anything connected with Hinduism is well known, went to town claiming to have discovered the "Gujarat Dangon Ka Sach" (truth behind the Gujarat riots), in their "sansanikhez khulasa" (sensational exposé).
These programmes made snide remarks on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's "direct involvement" in engineering the post-Godhra violence and shielding the culprits. In the event, the screaming headlines at the bottom of the screen proved to be longer than the sketchy visuals. The flavour that they served was insipid and flat. <b>The 'evidence' that they so bombastically presented, turned out to be the statements of some windbags, who simply bragged about their misdeeds. It was at best a hearsay evidence, which no court would take cognisance of in the absence of collaborative or documentary evidence.</b>
The programmes showed nothing new. Not an iota of evidence was proffered that would prove the Chief Minister's involvement in the post-Godhra violence. The three articles referred to above have ripped apart their claims of clean and ethical journalism. <b>From the analyses in the above articles motives of the stingers become amply clear.</b>
<b>First,</b> a reporter who was sent to mount an operation on Mr Modi's involvement in "fake encounters" has admitted that it was after that attempt failed that Tehelka fell back on the 2002 violence in Gujarat. <b>Second</b>, these 'shocking revelations' do not add to the bulk of what has been alleged earlier and the accused are already facing trial. <b>Third</b>, the revelations were aired within days of the Prime Minister calling the violence "Holocaust". <b>Fourth</b>, the timing of the revelations also is questionable -- just prior to the Assembly election in the State. <b>Last,</b> the matter is already sub judice so the evidence should have been presented in the court.
It was sad that journalism has now become an instrument of political manipulation. Now, hidden cameras are used, call girls are employed, liquor served, cash offered and interviews are managed on false pretence. The much touted "Operation Kalank" has further maligned this profession.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Looks like MMS had Gujarat on his mind while he was whining about the deal and coalition govts. lack of effectiveness. It cant be too coincidental. I think he hides his politics well behind academic cloak.