Amritsar tragedy: Left-liberal journalists shamelessly peddle political agenda

Even as the entire nation is mourning the tragic mishap in Amritsar that resulted in more than 60 deaths yesterday, the leftist liberal journalists have started indulging in petty reporting with the hope of cashing in for their political masters. Within minutes of the tragedy in Amritsar, the Lutyens’ media went up in arms trying to blame the Railways minister and the entire central government for the unfortunate and heart wrenching tragedy. It is appalling how these usual suspects try making electoral gains every time there is a tragedy. This is highly inhuman and condemnable on the part of these elitist journalists.

The unfortunate tragedy in Amritsar took place when the local Congress leaders organised a Dussehra event near railway tracks without taking permission from the state government or the Railways ministry. Some people inadvertently stepped on the tracks due to lack of space where the main event was held. Transfixed by the sight of burning of Ravana’s effigy and the accompanying noise of crackers, these people were taken aback when the train approached and crushed more than 60 people to death. The heart wrenching incident took the entire nation by shock and one cannot help but feel saddened to the core by this grave tragedy.

 However, it is highly insensitive how the elitist journalists left no stone unturned to politicise this tragedy and make electoral gains out of the accident in Amritsar. Shekhar Gupta who epitomises pseudo-liberalism, tried lambasting the Modi government. He claimed that the Modi government only talks of modernising the railways but there still are unmanned crossings even in well connected states like Punjab. He blamed callousness on the part of the government for this tragedy.

However, it is clear that the tragedy happened not because of the unmanned crossing but because of gross criminal negligence on the part of the organisers in Amritsar. The organisers had taken no precautions and had not even intimated the Punjab government or the Railways ministry about the event let alone taking permission for the same. Had the authorities been brought in the loop they would have either denied permission for the event or made adequate security arrangements for the event. The organisers also had no proper planning. The onlookers were not even warned against stepping on the railway tracks.

Another pseudo-liberal journalist, Swati Chaturvedi indulged in shameful propaganda against the Modi government and Railways minister, Piyush Goyal. She tweeted that Goyal was away to the USA when the horrific accident took place. She then tried passing off this incident as a rail accident by claiming that it was an “awful record of accidents”.

Let us be very clear about one thing this accident did not take place because the minister was away. The ministry was not apprised of the trespass that the Congress leaders had planned for the Dussehra event. And this was not a rail accident but an unfortunate tragedy that unfolded due to clear and gross criminal negligence on part of the organisers who kept everyone in dark about the event. The local administration is also at fault because it should have been on vigil given the significance of this festival and no one should have been allowed to hold such an event without due permission. However, Swati Chaturvedi tried spinning the tragedy against the BJP and Piyush Goyal. Later when confronted by other users she remained adamant and stated that since it was her timeline, her views would prevail. It is clear that journalists like her are adamant on twisting the tragedy in order to settle scores.

This tragedy has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. One expected maturity and sensitive reporting by the media houses and journalists but it seems that this is too big an expectation. Leftist liberal journalists however, look hell bent on using this tragedy to fulfill their ulterior motives.