Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Religious bias in "Secular" Indian press

Twitter has become a natural balanced critic of sponsored news by advertisers. It presents an absolute ruthless assessment of news media by audience. By sponsored news, we mean paid advertisements as news, commonly known as "Paid News", for political/religious/cultural parties and/or special coverage of special events for getting attention. As Vinod Mehta says "Paid-for news is emerging as the single-most serious threat to our collective credibility". The story of media can be best described as


Twitter has been a troublesome area for those who do not like their criticism. Some of the eminent journalists are facing real threat to their credibility as the agenda of discussion in not restricted to their studio domain. Recently twitter trended a hashtag that speaks for this "Anti-communal" bias in "Secular" press of India.

Vinod sharma is a veteran "Secular" apologist and editor in Hindustan times.  This is how he reacts to queries from two people of different religious orientation.
This tweet says for itself.
This is an excellent example of anti-hindu bias or "Prejudice" towards Hindus in their own motherland by institutional media. The recent reports on the Pune blasts points fingers to Islamic outfit Indian Mujahideen.  
The general perception developing among Indians for corporate media in India is they purposefully coin terms provoking Hindu sentiments but give a cold shoulder to violent Muslim mobs. e.g. coverage of recent Mumbai violence.  
Furthermore, police actions during violent Muslim mobs is also strikingly different. Inaction of police against violent Muslim mobs leads to natural reaction from Hindu community to stand up for their own protection. It is alleged that Indian media reports those Hindus as terrorists.

One of the most prominent reason for friction between Hindus and other religious community is "Religious conversion". However, it has never been a subject for debate in the commercial media.
On an interesting note, Gujarat riots were discussed for nearly 10 years except train burning incidence and interviews of its victims . 
Media manipulation on debates has reached a new height by presenting a recorded interview of eminent Hindu preacher Sri Sri Ravishankar on a live show with other co-panelists.
It is different issue that host of the show later apologized on tweeter after lots of outrage in social media.

On most of the debates related to Gujarat riots, former Prime minister of India, Shri A B Vajpayee is quoted saying "N. Modi ko rajdharm nibhana chahiye". Very lately a full footage reveals Shri Vajpayee saying N. Modi indeed performed his duty during riots. English news media presented half statement of former prime minister of India to show that chief minister of Gujarat was responsible for the riots. 
A lawyer has filed complain against congress president Sonia Gandhi, one of the most powerful lady in the world, but this is not a matter of debate in any news channel.
 Lastly a load of tweets that overwhelmingly describe anti-hindu bias in the main stream media is given by nationalizer.
Is there any foreign hand behind this anti-hindu bias?
Is the objective of the media is the same as thought by some "Hindu chauvinists"?
Some tweeple will never show their eye hiding behind their black glasses. 
It is interesting to note that violence of Mumbai went unreported because media and police were the main victims during the rioting.  The agenda driven news media is dangerous for multicultural fabric of India. Hope new social media will play a role of vaccine to cure the disease of religio-political bias in the Indian press. Hope social media will help clean this "dynastic/appeasement" culture of electronic media.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)