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On
Sunday morning the 3rd March at around 10 O' clock I was watching
Pak TV in Coorg all alone. It was a panel discussion produced
by Gulzar Fathima. The anchor, a fetching, poker-faced lady,
was quite unbiased and honest compared to our Star TV anchors
like Rajdeep Sardesai, Arnab Goswami and Vikram Chandra, who
ask questions sometimes silly, sometimes irritating and many
times prejudiced. They stutter and finally ask leading questions
like criminal lawyers to provoke and confuse. What kind of
journalism is that? Investigative or instigative?
The
subject of the discussion in Pak TV was the communal violence
in Gujarat and there were three distinguished persons- a Professor,
a barrister and another, I think, an army man. Of course,
all the three were understandably biased against India, but
the lady anchor discharged her responsibility with dignity
and grace. That was really commendable compared to, as I said
earlier, Star TV's political editor and anchor Rajdeep Sardesai.
Just
one example. On Sunday, Rajdeep Sardesai was interviewing
Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and as usual he was
behaving like a pugilist, but Mr. Narendra Modi kept his cool
even under such provocation and intimidation. Mr.Modi had
just told Mr.Sardesai that there was no delay in summoning
the army to tackle the situation. The Godhra incident took
place on February 27. Riot broke out on 28th. "I spoke to
the Union Government seeking army help at 4.30 pm on 28th.
The transportation of army troops began the same night. Helicopter
after helicopter brought the army men to Ahmedabad from Rajasthan
border. They joined the operation the next day, on March 1.
It took about two hours to deploy the forces, as the army
needed the Magistrate's permission. If you call this a delay
and a crime, myself and my Government are prepared to accept
any punishment".
Despite
Mr.Modi telling that the transportation of army troops was
done through a fast mode like helicopters throughout the night,
Mr.Sardesai asked, "Why, were there no army trucks?" When
helicopters were used where is the need for army trucks? Probably,
realizing that it was a foolish question, Mr.Modi simply ignored
it. It seemed to me that Mr.Sardesai could as well be the
anchor of Pak TV, where he would have outshone that sophisticated
cherubic lady to the mirth of Pakis.
Be
that as it may, let me share some of the views aired by those
gentlemen in Star TV. We listen to the anchors speaking more
than the panel members. They are a bunch of talkative boys.
In Pak TV it was other way round. Asked about the Godhra carnage,
a member confessed, "No doubt, it had triggered the violence
that followed."
Contrast
this with what our Indian politicians said. According to one
of our secular politicians on the Star TV, the provocation
for Godhra carnage was building up since almost one year when
VHP was moving the temple pillars etc., from different areas
to Ayodhya and Kar Sevaks were going and returning".
The
Pak Professor made a very pertinent point, which the Indian
secular politicians should take note of. He said India no
doubt has a secular constitution, but also has a non-secular
society. Another interesting point made was that India instead
of rushing to blame Pakistan or ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence)
or Jehadis for the Godhra brutal killing should hold an enquiry
to find out the culprits and punish them. Instead, why take
revenge by way of reprisal?
Here
it is generally felt that one of the reasons for communal
riots has been either inaction by the Police or delay in arresting
the culprits. Police should act fast to round up the leaders
(political, religious or criminal gang) with speed and announce
it to the public through both print and electronic media.
to
be continued…
K.B.Ganapathy,
Editor, Star of Mysore, Evening daily, Mysore.
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