Second
important factor which can cause the AAP experiment to fail apart from
‘aam adami’, Kejariwal and Team AAP are
‘Vested Interests and Media’.
Who
are these you ask?
Vested Interests are those people who
are looting the nation by breaking the laws, misusing rules with the help of existing
power structure. These people can be everywhere and anywhere. No institution is free
from them.
Media is also one such institution which not only has a vested interest but can also
allow itself to be used by other vested
interests. So, the media has double
power and double advantage - by saving the interests of vested interests it
makes money and also serves its own vested interests. (Like in Punjabi there is
one saying “Nalle Punn te Nalle Phalian”)
Media
has been under attack from Kejriwal.
Fans of Arnab Goswami of Times now are shocked
to see his allergy to Kejriwal.
Despite being sick, Rajat gupta of India TV
comes on the television to defend his channels’ biased reporting giving silly
defences which expose him more than defending him.
ZEE News is spitting the venom at AAP and
Kejriwal after getting humiliated and exposed while trying to sell the news
Media’s counter question To Kejriwal
But
before we understand the dynamics of the Media, we need to understand that when
media was focusing on and highlighting Kejriwal, when day
and night the media showed the agitation at Jantar Mantar and Ram Lila maidan –
Kejriwal never blamed the media for being biased towards him or the movement.
Why
Media Supported the Movement
So
we need to understand why media is now biased against AAP, while earlier it
helped the movement by showing it 24*7.
Media
always wants to project itself that it is with the aam adami and against the
misdeeds of the Rulers. So it will always show this type of agitation which
have massive public anger and try to show itself as saviour of the aam adami.
But that is where its Interest ends. It will not like that the system actually
changes because if it changes it will hurt the interests of the Media itself. Media will help you till you keep on crying -
but it will feel hurt when your cries are heard and rectified. So it will
always help diagnose but feel threatened
when disease is near cure.
That
is why Media feels now when Delhi experiment has shown that AAP, which is a creation
of the movement supported by the media, may actually become a reality and
threaten Medias Interests.
Media is like a doctor who is ready
to help the patient round the clock, but wants the patient to remain sick.
Second
reason media hypes the agitations is to creat fear in the minds of the rulers to extract more money..
By
Prof.
K K garg
Next- Why Media Does It
Excellent and perspective building post!! Keep writing sir..
ReplyDeleteWonderfully written sir!
ReplyDeleteSir
ReplyDeleteAt the outset I wish to extend my best wishes to you for having initiated a discussion on the current political discourse through your blog posts.
Coming to the theme of the current discussion titled, “Media and vested interests”, I wish to state most respectfully, that while I may be in agreement with only certain parts of your piece, I shall forever remain committed to a democratic expression of dissent. Voltaire comes to my aid whenever I find myself at loggerheads with a contrarian view. And I take the liberty to quote the great French philosopher, verbatim -
“I may disapprove of what you say, but I shall defend it to the death, your right to say it”.
I have quoted Voltaire not without reason. This quote is the cornerstone of my arguments against certain practices of Aam Admi Party (AAP). Let us try to understand the role of the media – especially electronic media which distinguishes itself from other modes of information dissemination by presenting news as it happens. “Breaking News” therefore may not always be news worthy of being taken notice of but news which helps TV channels have an edge over their competitors in terms of TRPs. Illustration – Timesnow accessed a document which conclusively established that Kejriwal – while making tall claims of leading a spartan life - wanted two palatial bungalows with sprawling lawns for himself within days of being sworn in as Delhi CM. A news ticker was dedicated to this issue and the ticker ran unceasingly for over 48 hrs (if my memory serves me well) on Timesnow. Further, the issue was analysed, dissected and brainstormed !!! for over 90 minutes on prime time by Timesnow anchors. Why? Chiefly because no other channel had documents relating to this issue. Hence it was a perfect news scoop by Timesnow to not just expose Kejriwal’s doublespeak but also browbeat its competitors. Now there can hardly be any disagreement with the fact that Kejriwal did commit an error of judgement. And he admitted to his mistake publicly. Something for which he deserved appreciation. But it is equally true that disproportionate media coverage was given to this rather frivolous issue compared with more pressing problems that deserved an informed discussion on Live Television.
The above example of media over-reach was just a case in point. Likewise you would recall, there have been many goof-ups, contradictions, and inconsistencies in the words and actions of AAP. But does that justify the scathing criticism of AAP by the media? AAP’s leadership is new, inexperienced and novice in the business of politicking. They are human and prone to commit error. But they are quick learners and deserve allowance for their mistakes. However, large sections of the media, it seems, derive immense pleasure ridiculing AAP, highlighting their inadequacies and running them down as an ‘also-rans’.
Having said that, why is the media pitted against Kejriwal and Co. ? This question has been dodged by AAP by branding the media as stooges of mega-corporations. If the media pushes forth your agenda and gives you favourable coverage, the media is GOOD. Else you will label it as agents of corporate houses. Is that fair? And if the argument is that media houses are funded by corporations who have a stake in government, then isn’t it equally true that AAP also runs on funding received from corporates, among others. One can then stretch the argument to ludicrous proportions by saying that AAP’s money is purer than that of others. Let’s accept that money is the sinews of political outfits as well as business organisations. Both need money to meet their objectives.
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ReplyDeleteHere is the commoners’ advice to Kejriwal. While Kejriwal deserves rich applause for his sterling efforts at purging the system, he must be patient and allow his efforts to bear fruit. He has tremendous mental fortitude. But needs to match it with equivalent foresight. People’s problems are not going to vanish in thin air just by sloganeering. Sweeping statements like – “When this happens all problems will be over” don’t jell well with the ideology of AAP. Afterall, where on earth does utopia exist? Kejriwal must remember that the bar for him would naturally be much higher. The benchmark would be much more nuanced and stiffer. The expectation of the people – especially the educated citizenry- would literally, be sky high. Because he proclaims to occupy the moral high ground. Because he promises unprecedented changes in the functioning of government. Because he plans to provide ‘swaraj’ to the unlettered Indian. And lastly because he is self-avowedly committed to eradicating corruption from public life.
The media and the AAP are complementary to each other. Yet they are currently working at cross-purposes. The media’s job is of vigilantism. It constitutes the fourth pillar of our democracy. It serves as an honest watchdog and is largely independent, unbiased and impartial. I may hasten to add that there are media houses which are mouthpieces of their masters. But like our polity which needs cleansing, so does the media. There are desirable and undesirable elements in the media. But let us not shoot the messenger just because the message is not palatable.
I conclude by repeating what I wrote in the beginning. We have the liberty to disagree. But let us not bicker just because we have to win a few brownie points.
Regards
Aashutosh Jerath
Alumnus PEC (1997 batch Electrical) & IIM B (2006)
Post-script:
Mahatma Gandhi’s life has a lesson for crusaders like Kejriwal. The frail old man lived for a little over 78 years. But spent over one-fourth of his life behind bars. He was a prisoner of conscience who always stood for the underdog. He epitomised satyagraha. But when the judgement day arrived he brought the mighty British Empire to his feet. Patience and perseverance are matchless virtues. And crusaders have limitless reserves of both.
Dear Ashutosh
ReplyDeleteIt was joy to read your Thoughtful Comments. We will discuss all the facets of this movement. My purpose is to see things beyond labels, whether it is AAM adami party or Free Media . For Arnab Goswami See his Discussion the day before Kejriwal was sworn in. His Biasing Started Even before Kejriwal was sworn in. Just see Rajat Gupta of India TV with Amit Shah and Vinod Binny, You will see that is not dissent but Mouthpiece of vested intrests. See Zee TV the way the word his actions. Dishonest Media can do much harm than a dishonest Kejriwal as media has to stay for all time where kejriwal may be transitory.
do read my first post " why kejriwal watch" and comment.
Luv and regards
K K garg
"There are two parts to revolution, from and for; and there should be two kinds of revolutionaries: those who are working for the first-----that is freedom from-----and those who will work when the work of the first is finished, for freedom for"...OSHO
ReplyDeleteTill now major focus of AAP is like the first type of revolutionaries who work towards "freedom from". But the strategies of "freedom from" will certainly fail if they don't change it to "freedom for" if they come to power.
Beautiful
ReplyDelete