Barkha Dutt says Indian media isn’t being truthful either about cow terrorism or Yogi Adityanath

In this week’s News Ka Juice, Barkha Dutt looks at the murder of inspector Subodh Kumar Singh in Uttar Pradesh and the rhetoric of the Yogi Adityanath government.

When will the media stop lying about cow terrorism?

When will journalists stop using words like gau rakshak and cow vigilantes?

These are euphemisms that give respectability – and justification – to murderous, Muslim-hating mobs…

This is the language of cowardice.

———–

Look at the killing of police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh…

A chilling assassination by a frenzied crowd…

A crowd so inhumane that it then stops to take photographs of the fallen officer.

The media says these were “clashes” after reports that bovine carcasses were found in the nearby fields.

Once again, the language creates equivalence…

The word ‘clashes’ suggests that Subodh may have been as much to blame for his own death… as his killers…

This is also the language of cowardice.

———–

A police officer was shot in the head for trying to keep the peace.

These thugs killed a man in uniform, and they have the gall to call themselves nationalists?

Yes, a civilian, Sumit, was killed too as mob violence erupted.

But when a mob is setting police vehicles on fire…

When men in the crowd have pistols…

When the crowd is assaulting a police outpost…

The police has to do its job.

Inspector Subodh Kant Singh is a martyr…

Who was killed – not in clashes, dear media –

But in the line of duty.

So, let’s stop using the language of cowardice

——————

Now, about the chief minister…

Yogi Adityanath.

Routinely glorified as the BJP’s star election campaigner.

Now the same media wants the know if Adityanath will act to protect his police force?

Really? Are you serious?

This is the same chief minister who has worn his hatred for Muslims on his sleeve.

On the election trail he said, “You have Ali…we have Bajrang Bali…”

In 2015, when Mohammad Akhlaq was murdered over beef rumours,

Adityanath wanted – not his killers – but his family to be punished.

A Hindutva outfit floated by him had offered guns to Hindus who were being harassed.

At that time, we, in the media, called him fringe.

Now he is chief minister.

What adjective will we use now?

Or will we continue with the language of cowardice?

——————-

It is no coincidence that Inspector Subodh was also an investigating officer in the Akhlaq lynching.

His sister thinks that’s why he was murdered.

Now that lynch mobs have taken their hatred beyond Muslim cattle traders…

And targeted a police officer…

Will we at least now have the courage to say…

the life of a human being is more precious than the life of a cow?

And there is nothing holy or sacred about murder…

Killing in the name of beef politics is barbaric.

No ifs, no buts.

Or will we continue to speak in the language of cowardice?