ANKIT RAJ
The quality of journalism being done in India is constantly seeing a decline. There is an increase in threat on freedom and safety of media persons. An international organization believes that Indian journalism is losing its impact due to the pressures from ‘Hindu activists’ and threats.
‘Reporters Without Borders’ is an international border which has released its report on the press freedom through out the globe. This organization published its survey on freedom of press on 18th April. In this report, India got 138 rank in the year 2018 and has got 140 rank this year. This means that India has slipped down by two ranks in comparison to the last year.
The fall in Indian Journalism is constant
In the year 2016, India got 133rd rank in the report of ‘Reporters Without Borders’. India got 136th rank in 2017 and secured 138th rank in the year 2018. Now, this year also its rank has fallen and this time it has got 140th rank. This means that the level and quality of Indian journalism is constantly falling.
This time, India is is on 140th rank in the list of 180 nations. This means it is better than just 40 other nations in terms of ‘Freedom of Press’. Even countries like Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are in a better position than India.
‘Reporters Without Borders’ has also considered Narendra Modi and his ‘Hindutva supporters’ to be also responsible for the degrading condition of Indian Journalism. The report has concluded that PM Modi’s supporters are quite violent. They cannot bear the criticism of anyone.
The journalists who try to question the Modi government, a campaign is run against them on social media. Also, they are given death threats. If the journalist is a female then situation gets even worse. Who ever criticizes them are termed as anti-nationals. But, it is to understand neither government is nation nor their supporters.
One more thing, which is not mentioned in the report. On one hand there are journalists who are facing threats due to criticizing the ‘Hindutva agenda’, there are some journalists who run this agenda.
Such media institutions and journalists are getting support from the government itself. In the last four years, hundreds of such incidents were reported when groups of right-wing journalists supported the government and Hindu activists by going against the constitutional values.
One such recent instance is of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur case. She is accused of Malegaon blast case, she is accused in a terrorist blast. Yet, BJP gave ticket to her from Bhopal seat. There are journalist who are running propaganda in support of her.
Pragya Thakur is still accused in the Malegaon blast case of 2008. Malegaon Blast was called a terrorist attack by the investigating agencies. In this case Pragya Thakur has been sentenced to 9 years in jail and is currently out on bail on ‘Health Grounds’. The question arises that there is threat to her health in the jail, but she is fit to contest elections?
However, no right-wing journalist has raised question on this. On the other hand, they are calling Pragya’s contesting election as ‘Dharm-Yudh’.This is happening even after the Election Commission has given clear instructions that no one can ask votes in the name of religion. Below are some examples from the Hindi-TV media where it can be seen that they are making Pragya Thakur a new face for ‘Hindu-Politics’ in India.
अब जनता दरबार में 'हिंदू आतंक' की साजिश का हिसाब ? 'हिंदू आतंक' के 'कलंक' के खिलाफ 'धर्म युद्ध' #2019KaDharmYuddh ताल ठोक के 5 PM @ZeeNewsHindi @ZeeNewsHindi @AmanChopra_ @SachinArorra pic.twitter.com/JzaKDp9P7s
— Siddhinath (@siddhinath) April 18, 2019
जनता करेगी ‘हिंदू आतंक’ का फ़ैसला?
साध्वी प्रज्ञा के सहारे चुनाव लगेगा किनारे?
आतंकवाद के आरोप हराएँगे या जिताएँगे?
साध्वी प्रज्ञा EXCLUSIVE @aajtak पर.
वोट का ‘धर्म-युद्ध’!
दंगल, शाम 5 बजे, @aajtak पर. pic.twitter.com/IIup1Sz2XR— रोहित सरदाना (@sardanarohit) April 18, 2019
After all, Indian media will lose its credibility and quality in the times when journalists stoop down to such low level. It will lose its quality when they try to find chips in notes and try to instigate riots.
