The group of intellectuals and academicians (GIA), a group of independent women activists consisting of retired judge Meera Khadakkar, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora, Delhi University professor Sonali Chaitalkar, social activist Monica Agarwaal and journalist Sarjana Sharma had submitted a factual report on the Kathua rape and murder case to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Personnel Jitendra Singh earlier this week. Jitendra Singh promised that the report will be sent to the concerned court for its consideration. The report pointed out several inconsistencies in the charge-sheet, and the disparities between the police/autopsy reports and the ground realities of Kathua. It has also highlighted shoddy investigations and the botched-up police probe into the matter. The report has called upon for fair and impartial trial of the case and requested the Jammu & Kashmir government not to turn a deaf ear towards the people of Jammu region who already feel alienated in the state.
The chilling details of the faulty investigations into the Kathua case had led to aspersions on the reliability of police probe. The fact-finding report has dented the attempts to communalise and politicise the grave tragedy. Those who were initially trying to hijack the narrative and give a “Hindu versus Muslim” twist to it have now made an attempt to malign this group of women, which had exercised its right to ask for a fair trial in the Kathua case.
The Print, Shekhar Gupta’s media outlet, in an obvious attempt to give political colour to the report, has labelled the team as an RSS-BJP linked group of women intellectuals. However, it is in the public domain that the group consists of independent and eminent women having no political backing or background. The news story then goes on to highlight how the group fights for Hindu rights and has dealt with what the media considers politically incorrect issues such as the Kairana exodus and the attacks on BJP workers in Kerala. The media outlet looking at the fact that the group of women is vocal about issue that does not suit their agenda, has assumed for itself that it is a BJP/ RSS sponsored group without an iota of proof. The story also tries to draw a link between the demands raised by Hindu Ekta Manch after the Kathua incident and the GIA. However, this is an unnecessary comparison. GIA has only questioned the inconsistencies and the faulty methods adopted during investigations which are contrary to establishes practices.
Similarly, Indian Express and The Wire, both famous for their strong and biased political views, have also concocted myths with regard to the factual report submitted by GIA. They have stated that “the group didn’t meet the family of the victim or the Muslim Bakarwal community and haven’t mentioned them in their report.” However, tfipost.com has learned that they not only spoke to the father of the victim, but also have a recording of the conversation. They also met Nazakat Khatana, the Bakkarwal leader who had initially protested for a CBI probe. They met other influential members of the Bakkarwal community including Javed Rahi and Zulfikar Bakkarwal, a minister in the Mufti government.
These media outlets have also claimed that the fact-finding report has questioned the Jammu & Kashmir Crime Branch team on the ground that it consists of two Kashmiri Muslims and in a state like Jammu & Kashmir and in a case like this one, it really matters. However, this allegation is also without substance. GIA has only asked the government to proceed cautiously in the matter. It has never used the term ‘Kashmiri Muslim”. It is clear that there is an attempt to malign the women involved in this group and to paint them in bad light.
Media outlets must understand that freedom of speech and expression is not their exclusive domain. Others have this right too and they can also raise issues where some irregularity is apparent. However, it seems that anyone who goes against the agenda of these media outlets is bound to face heckling at their end. The concoctions in the present case are a perfect example of how the agenda-driven sections in the mainstream media malign and stifle anyone who dares to take a stand contrary to theirs.