When it comes to Indian TV channels, the Opposition just can’t get anything right. Is that why news TV treats it with ill-disguised contempt?
On the one hand, television news channels promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi with unstinting coverage of every event he holds or attends; on the other, they sniff here, there and everywhere to dig out dirt on the Opposition.
When not muckraking, comments are blown out of proportion—or context, the truth is bent a little, a tale is twisted a little to create a controversy for INDIA.
So, when the Opposition alliance held its first big joint rally in Patna, Sunday, where leaders of at least six political parties spoke out against the BJP, some news channels carried ‘live’ excerpts of speeches by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, but it was left to the Monday morning newspapers to report what they said, in detail.
Instead, channels sneered: ‘Same old RaGa,’ said Times Now, ‘The usual mohabbat ki dukaan’.
For TV news, the key takeaway from the rally was RJD leader Lalu Yadav’s comment that the PM had no ‘parivar’ and that he was not a “true Hindu”. They rose as one to defend the PM, although Modi is more than capable of looking after himself: he turned Lalu Yadav’s comment into a slogan for himself and his party — “Bharat mera parivar hai,” he declared Monday at a public meeting in Telangana, which TV repeated all day.
The PM’s “fierce” rebuke (CNN News 18) hit the spot. There was no need for TV news to attack the Opposition but attack they did—news anchors jeered at Lalu for making a joke of himself and the alliance. Here is India Today’s Shiv Aroor: “Move over Mani Shankar Aiyar, there’s a new kid in town—Lalu Prasad Yadav.” Aroor said Yadav was a “convicted criminal out of jail on bail…”
“While Opposition makes personal attacks on the PM and is trying to find ways to win elections, Modi held a 10-hour meeting on planning for the first 100 days of the next government. Such is his confidence,” said an India TV anchor, Monday, “They are desperate…”
On Republic TV, anchor Arnab Goswami called Lalu’s remark “a self goal”. He said it has “brought [the] country together (and) reinforced PM’s image. Does the Opposition believe in political suicide?”
Anand Narasimhan of CNN News 18 said it was a “new low” and “counter-productive”, while Marya Shakil linked it back to other comments by opposition leaders against PM during elections: ‘Maut ka saudagar’, ‘Chaiwala’, ‘Chowkidaar chor hai’ (NDTV 24×7).
This will “cost INDIA”, concluded CNN News 18.
So much for what newspapers like The Indian Express had called a “mammoth” rally.
Also read: Only Modi speech on TV news channels. Opposition is reduced to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘dog biscuit’
Permanently ready with a coffin
Rahul Gandhi and Congress are the favourite targets of TV news with the likes of Goswami openly contemptuous of both: ‘Vadra Congress’, ‘Rahul baba’ are his demeaning references to both.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra by Rahul and Congress has received glancing interest on TV, mostly when news channels can find something to criticise. As the yatra entered Madhya Pradesh, Times Now Navbharat found nothing but this to highlight: “Rahul Gandhi ka Pak prem,” it said and quoted Rahul saying that India’s unemployment rate was higher than Pakistan’s. Notice, the channel didn’t challenge Rahul with unemployment figures, which it could have done—it simply wanted to show him in bad light. Gandhi had also said Bangladesh and Nepal had lower unemployment rates, but that was ignored by Times Now Navbharat.
Next, Times Now wanted to know why ‘Opposition was shielding Pak backers?’ This followed the claim that ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ was allegedly chanted by Congress supporters in the Karnataka assembly. Note, this is “alleged” by BJP, and the Congress government in Karnataka has arrested the ‘alleged’ accused pending an inquiry. However, instead of dwelling on this aspect, India Today unearthed a photograph of one of the accused, Munawar, with Rahul Gandhi. Bas, that’s another strike against Rahul.
Rahul Gandhi’s procession through Madhya Pradesh received little attention but for the ‘aloo gift’ (Republic Bharat). BJP supporters, chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, accosted Gandhi and offered him potatoes, which he accepted. This became the big story on Aaj Tak, News 24, and Republic Bharat. Potatoes? Is that all news TV could find regarding the Nyay Yatra to report on?
Also read: When channels aren’t chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, they are following Modi—ignoring Rahul Gandhi
Why do channels bother?
The other very important story to make headlines comes from West Bengal—no, not Sandeshkhali but Ramendu Sinha Roy. A clip of a speech by the TMC’s Tarakeswar MLA where he purportedly claims that Ayodhya is ‘unholy’ and Hindus ought not to pray there—and TV news channels went to town against him.
These appear to be inappropriate remarks but since news channels seldom give viewers any context and selectively choose particular portions of speeches, it’s impossible to understand why and what Roy said.
Or take this anomaly: while NDTV 24×7 told us that Udhayanidhi Stalin has been ‘given relief by Madras HC—petition against him dismissed’, in relation to his comments on ‘Sanatana Dharma’, India Today chose to highlight the strictures against him—Madras HC ‘slams’ him, it said.
We can expect much more of the same coverage and attacks on the Opposition as we head into the Lok Sabha election in April-May. However, you do wonder why they bother?
In the latest India TV-CNX opinion poll, Tuesday, BJP is set to win 378 seats while I.N.D.I.A bloc a measly 98 seats. Why do TV channels flog parties like the Congress, which, according to the poll, ‘is likely to be reduced to 37 seats’?
The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)
Boo Hoo, they cover Modi but make fun of my boy Rahul. Remember how NDTV vilified Modi. You started it. Now crying the taste of your own medicine.