As the tone for the 2019 General elections is being set, a bunch of journalists have realised that they must use their limited influence on society to prevent Narendra Modi from assuming office once again. It does not appear to be a coincidence that the all weather Congress and left leaning journalists come out and almost cohesively cry about how they are getting intimidated and threatened by the establishment. A few days ago it was Ravish and Rana, and now, our favourite Barkha Dutt.
News has it that Barkha Dutt is in the plans of launching her own English news channel. After a bit of buzz in social media about her plans, Barkha took it on herself to get some instant publicity for her to-be venture. And what better way could she possible have thought of? Play the victim card. Barkha Dutt claimed in her tweets that the government was intimidating, threatening and aiming to stop her from launching a news channel. She claimed that ‘top leaders’ threatened her and told her that she and her family were under constant surveillance. She also took potshots at Republic TV claiming that it is the only news channel to have launched after 2014.
Received chilling veiled threats and "messages" from powerful people in the Establishment today that my family and I are under surveillance – and that I will be smeared & maligned to stop me from starting any new projects. Was advised to get my house debugged. Is this my country?
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018
When countered by Tweeple as to why she did not name the alleged ‘top leaders of the establishment’ and didn’t file an FIR against them, she had this to say:
For those asking why not file an FIR; please know that intimidation works in multiple ways – arm twisting media owners; tapping phones; income tax harassment, social media smears, regulatory stranglehold… Ask again – why has only Republic been able to launch as a news channel?
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018
I see no reason as to why Barkha should hold back from taking the help of law enforcing agencies, even if she is being ‘intimidated’ indirectly. Will accusing the establishment on Twitter ever refrain them from doing so?(if ever they did, that is.) Isn’t journalism all about exposing crooks and the corrupt? Why is Barkha Dutt shying away from her primary responsibility as a journalist?
A particular tweet which I found fascinating is given below:
All this while I though Indian Democracy would keep me safe & keep my rights as a private citizen intact. Today it is conveyed to me that sections of the Establishment have decided to use any tool available to stop me from working. I am placing this in the public domain .
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) June 7, 2018
Barkha Dutt says that she expected Indian democracy to keep her and her rights safe and intact. Fair enough. But tell me pray, how is any institution supposed to protect Barkha and her rights as a citizen if Barkha doesn’t approach the appropriate institutions when need be? Will the police act intuitively or will they base their action upon tweets by Barkha Dutt? It is completely illogical for her to blame Indian Democracy for not protecting her while complaining on social media. But again, how do you associate logic with a person known to telecast live security operations and give sensitive details to the enemy, whether it be Kargil, 26/11 or Pathankot.
While everyone was going berserk about baseless threats given to Barkha Dutt, a real journalist, Anand Narasimhan was threatened(for the lack of a better word) on live TV by ‘comrade’ Prakash Ambedkar.
#BREAKING LISTEN IN: Shocking tirade by Prakash Ambedkar, open threat to TIMES NOW’s Anand Narasimhan, threatens physical harm, ‘6 mahine mein sarkar badal jayegi’ #MaoistLetterNamesCong pic.twitter.com/Jw6XxZK7KB
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 7, 2018
Abusive language, threats to life and career. ‘Usko Hum Dekh Lenge’, ‘Usse kehde naki 6 maheene baad sarkaar nahi rahegi’ and more filth hurled at Anand Narasimhan. All this is on record. Not one stalwart of Indian journalism spoke against comrade Ambedkar(who ironically is BR Ambedkar’s grandson). Sanjay Hegde had this to say:
Ambedkar himself would have protested
https://t.co/ZRKxPmATfq— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) June 3, 2018
All those who called out Prakash Ambedkar were journalists from the right wing or those who haven’t sold their souls to 10 Janpath. Compare the outrage in this case with that of Barkha Dutt’s baseless claims of intimidation. The story unfolds itself.
Are the threats given to Barkha Dutt on record? I doubt. Did Anand Narasimhan blame Indian Democracy for these abuses? No. Did Barkha Dutt miss a chance to run down Indian Democracy? Never does. As such, who seems more credible to you?
Speaking of credibility, I am reminded of Nira Radia who found Barkha Dutt very credible and trustworthy. Barkha Dutt and her close affiliations to the Congress are not hidden. She is said to have spoken with Ghulam Nabi Azaad to stop the appointment of Dayanidhi Maran as the Union IT and Communications Minister. Since Barkha Dutt and her like-minded colleagues are not given due attention and recognition by the current establishment, they want the public to believe that the democracy which the Congress nurtured with utmost care is under heavy attack by the BJP. Such was Barkha Dutt’s influence and grandeur that even Hafiz Saeed himself couldn’t stop from showering praises at her. “…Wahan par(in India) acche log bhi maujood hai, Barkha Dutt jaise achi baatein karne waale bhi maujood hai…” were the 26/11 mastermind’s exact words.
Indian ‘liberal’ journalists are an amusing lot. They contradict their own stand every now and then. They preach of tolerance, but practice intolerance of the worst kind. They say democracy is in danger only when it suits their narrative. If you were to ask Barkha, Sagarika, Rajdeep, Ravish and their kind about whether democracy is murdered when Anand Narasimhan receives threats, the first thing they’d do is block you on Twitter.
My message to these pseudo-journalists is: Lay aside your hypocrisy.
