Cover Story : Times Now Disaster

Intro : Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh and Indian government did a fabulous job by evacuating thousands from Yemen. Inspite of praising, some media houses are busy distorting the statement made by VK Singh.

The leading lights of media got a rude shock of their life when people rose up and raised their voices and opinions on social sites against mischievous Arnab Goswami of Times Now for distorting the statement of former Army Chief General VK Singh, who also is Minister of State for External Affairs. Post Yemen crisis, VK Singh has monitored the successful evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn Yemen which has witnessed clashes between Saudi-led coalition forces and Houthi rebels backed by Iran.

During the evacuation of its citizens, India also received requests from various countries including Bangladesh, US and Iraq to evacuate its citizens. It was during this operation that VK Singh took a dig at the media and said “It looks like the rescue operation is not that exciting as my visit to Pakistan embassy. He was probably unhappy with the media’s attempt to ignore the good work by the Indian soldiers in contrast to the wide coverage given to his presence at Pakistan High Commission during Pakistan Day celebration in New Delhi last month.
Creating controversy, Arnab Goswami on Times Now said “Gen VK Singh said rescue operation is less exciting than going to Pak embassy”. Can one see the difference? During the entire rescue operation, Indian media was conspicuous by its absence in aggressively highlighting the work by the Indian soldiers in difficult and dangerous situation. Had it not been the social media, the entire operation named ‘Rahat’ would have gone unnoticed.
The media which never let go the opportunity to bash BJP and its ministers grabbed Singh’s statement with both hands. Earlier media demanded apology from Gen VK Singh for his statement and by doing so justified the meaning of #Prestitutes. Surprisingly, the people across the country revolted against the negative campaign of media against VK Singh. They openly expressed their displeasure on social sites and going by the reaction of the public it seems media houses have yet to learn lessons from their failed attempt to influence the Indian public against the BJP during the 2014 general elections.
The strong reaction by the Facebook and Twitter users against Arnab’s campaign, to seek apology and resignation from VK Singh reflects the mood against the established media in general for spitting venom against the Hindus, nationalist government and organisations like RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. Media in its daily evening shows invariably hurt Hindu sentiments without any proof. In the recent rape case of Nun at Ranaghat, West Bengal, fingers were pointed at the Hindu organisations for the incident against the Christian community. But the media felt silent when names of illegal Muslim Bangladeshis popped up. No fatwa was issued by Sakshi Maharaj; he had only advised Hindus to have at least four children, but the secular media was up in arms against him. But same media was deaf and dumb when Church had asked its followers to have more children to increase their population. Church had even offered to give monetary aid to the Christian couples. Same media had wept bitterly when Ghar Wapsi programme was launched but never agreed that anti-conversion law should be passed. This irritated the Hindus at large. The so-called left-liberal-intellectuals in media accuse Hindu organisations for compelling MF Hussain to leave India as his freedom of expression was curtailed. But Indian media didn’t speak aggressively against terrorists’ strike at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. No candle marches were organised by the media fraternity in India. In fact many heaved a sigh of relief that tragedy did not strike them despite provoking and accusing Hindus of communalism whereas Hindus have been the victims in terrorists’ strikes.
Media emboldened over the years decided to take on VK Singh but failed to analyse the strong resentment and negativity that established media has earned for itself over the decade. Likes of Arnab must go to the morgue and find out who was the former High Court or Supreme Court Judge who once remarked in the presence of media that he has more respect for sex workers then the people associated with the press. The news had appeared in the middle pages of Delhi’s English newspaper. Then why raise hue and cry over VK Singh’s remark?
It’s high time media changes its work culture, ethos and show more respect to the Hindu sentiments after the backlash. If they won’t, media will end up expediting the RSS goal of awakening the Kumbhkarans among the Hindus, much earlier than thought. The overwhelming support to VK Singh on social sites against media is just a prelude of things to come.
Manoj Sharma (The writer is a senior columnist)