When morals and ethics are pushed out of social etiquette, and perversion and vulgarity in the name of liberality and boldness are promoted, what can one expect in the society? Maybe someone thought of such degeneration in the future and added ‘Uttara Ramayana’ where in Rama distances himself and disowns his beloved pregnant wife (This doesn’t intend to start a parallel discussion) – only to highlight the high standards that are needed in the personal life of those who hold public offices.
Well, a senior freelance journalist Vinod Verma was arrested today and hundreds of CDs were confiscated from his house. While he was being taken to court Verma informed his brethren that he has in his possession a CD in which one senior minister of Chattisgarh was shown in a compromising position with a woman. Times of India states “a person with strong resemblance to a powerful minister”. Vinod Verma names the minister as Rajesh Munat, PWD minister.
The police arrested him on extortion charges and confirmed that there certainly are objectionable matter in the CDs. The case was filed by BJP’s IT cell in-charge Prakash Bajaj that someone had a CD of his boss. Police reached Delhi and spoke to the shop that ‘allegedly’ made 1000 copies of the CD. Shop owner ‘allegedly’ named Vinod Verma as his customer. These two lines are from NDTV’s report, which ‘allegedly’ is also a news channel.
Of course, the ‘Gangs of Journalismpur’ are out to defend their brother. Some say he was investigating the minister. Some say he was planning a sting operation against the minister. It is only a coincidence that I suddenly got reminded of Tarun Tejpal, the pioneer of sting operations. Anyway, the fascist BJP governments of Chattisgarh and Center have restricted the freedom of speech according to these saints of morality.
However, the most interesting defence of Vinod Verma has come from the Congress chief of Chattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel. The broadminded Bhupesh had released a copy of the said CD to the press. Though he restrained himself naming the minister, he questioned: I have a copy of the CD. Will I be arrested? Of course, he has not confirmed the BJP’s version that Vinod Verma is a close relative of Baghel.
Considering the stature of Mr Verma, who has worked with BBC and is a member of Editor’s Guild of India it was naïve on his part frankly. The entire world knows how BJP and RSS responded to a CD involving one Sanjay Joshi. The same world also knows how Congress responded to a CD featuring the one and only Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is still one of the most powerful (of whatever power that is left with the Congress) leaders of the party. Moreover, it was many years ago, Manu Singhvi got a stay on public airing of the CD featuring him.
If Vinod Verma thought the minister was exploiting the woman, he should have reported to the police the matter immediately instead of making thousands of copies that can only be used for political gains. If Vinod Verma thought the CD exposes only an affair of the minister, even then he should have reported to the police. In both cases, he could have put the CD in public domain which Baghel did now. Keeping the CD with him and making copies of it, while the Congress chief was having his own set of copies only shows the political mileage expected from the episode. Or, was Vinod Verma really blackmailing the minister?
It is not rare that journalists are charged for extortion. In every nook and corner of the country there exists a journo running a small four-fold newspaper only to misuse the press badge by threatening local people and leaders. If we consider politicians are guilty until proven innocent, would the same not applicable to journalists? Alternately, should we consider everyone innocent until proven guilty, like all the ruling parties define? Somewhere in between these two questions lie the truth, which may be innocent or guilty but would torment either of the litigants.
Meanwhile, Chattissgarh politics have evolved from infightings in Congress to Congress scheming against BJP. However, the ploy they choose against the government exhibited their naivety in not selecting many a newsworthy incidents against the state government. Congress strategists should realise the lack of impact on voters based on sleaze videos and try to work on serious issues that affect the people of the state.
PS: Action against Vinod Verma should not be seen as supporting any legislations pending for enactment that may disallow writing against government servants and political leaders. Let there be free speech. Let there be investigative journalism to bring out scams and scandals but not for extorting culprits.
References:
https://www.thequint.com/ne…/vinod-verma-journalist-arrested
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…/articles…/61263977.cms
https://www.ndtv.com/…/journalist-arrested-for-alleged-stin…