Elections saw a nasty media 'promoting' animosity between communities

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*

The results of the General Elections 2024 have thoroughly exposed the corporate media and its dominant caste proponents. I have never trusted them but they took 10 years of Modi rule to get exposed completely.

VT Rajshekar, editor of "Dalit Voice", which flourished in the 1990s, always mocked at their claim of ''merit". He wrote, 'Merit: My Foot'. Many people would question him and blame him for criticising ''liberals'' but he remained categorical that the Brahmanical liberals are more dangerous.

Time has proved that these liberals by picking up one or two issues become brands of 'secularism' and 'liberalism' in the Brahmin-Bania media, but get exposed whenever there is a threat to their duopoly.

The bloodbath at the stock market where Banias hold solid monopoly can't be without the involvement and knowledge of those who own these channels and have converted them into disinformation centres for their own profit. The darbari or manustream media has lost all its credibility.

We all know that this has been a tough election where BJP wanted to finish everything that we had in the name of opposition. It played different games, distorting facts and hiding information from people. The so-called 'national media' therefore is a partner in crime against the Constitution.

Look the way Rajat Sharma of IndiaTV shamelessly spoke about Rahul Gandhi, that he would escape tor Italy after June 4th, a despicable statement repeated by BJP spokespersons everywhere. The 'bombardment' of so-called interviews of Narendra Modi during election campaign were nothing but purely advertised campaign for the ruling party. Unfortunately, neither the Election Commission nor the Supreme Court bothered about it. The media had no time to question the government, but in the name of news they were just providing platform to those who can demonise the opposition and lampoon Rahul Gandhi.

Rajdeep Sardesai appeared to bat for Narendra Modi. He spoke in many interviews that BJP would cross the 300 mark. Shekhar Gupta virtually mocked at the Congress and felt it would not cross 60, and crossing 90 would mean a big thing. Another 'liberal' Vir Sanghvi was also upset with the Congress, saying, Rahul Gandhi only spoke about caste census and reservation.

Indian media has proved that it will go to any extent to protect the caste interests of its owners and reporters. They are upset with caste questions. In the 1990s, during the BJP's Ayodhya campaign, the middle class liberals were exposed for hating Mandal. Media had no shame in supporting the Hindutva campaign just because they don't want to upset their caste hegemony.

Now, 35 years later, we now see, a must worse media, more nasty, casteist and thuggish, promoting animosity among communities, with no shame in broadcasting and publishing stories that vilify Muslims of India. Isn't it a shame that nearly 15 crore population of India is termed as the main villain, and all efforts were made to deny them representation.

Indian media has proved that it will go to any extent to protect the caste interests of its owners and reporters

Media is business. They are loyal to their jaatis and owners. After 1990s, many of our friends felt that India needs to 'liberalise' but they only seek privatisation of national resources to a few cronies and jaatis. They could not develop liberal thinking and ideas.

Capitalism in India is nothing but Baniaism and media owned by the Banias have done everything to protect their business and market monopoly. Brahmins were just satisfied with their social-cultural privileges. The duopoly of these two communities is well established. Capitalism in India needs religion to thrive and vice versa. Jyotiba Phule said it is Sethji-Bhatji combine that wants to rule over us, control our minds and resources. Anyone who tries to challenge this hegemony is unwanted, named and shamed as jaatiwadis.

It is good that diverse sections of young people are speaking out. Different voices need to emerge. There are good people everywhere, and I don't say everyone from these communities are bad. Exceptions are always there but we must not forget that jaatis create and protect the hegemonic rule. Perhaps, that is the reason why we all are upset with caste question and representation of diverse groups in our power structure.

India's unity and strength is its diversity, and it is time this diversity is reflected in the media, judiciary, industry, academia and the cultural spaces. Only then we will be called a truly liberal democratic society.

---

*Human rights defender

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Covishield controversy: How India ignored a warning voice during the pandemic

Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD * It is a matter of pride for us that a person of Indian origin, presently Director of National Institute of Health, USA, is poised to take over one of the most powerful roles in public health. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian origin physician and a health economist, from Stanford University, USA, will be assuming the appointment of acting head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Bhattacharya would be leading two apex institutions in the field of public health which not only shape American health policies but act as bellwether globally.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Growth without justice: The politics of wealth and the economics of hunger

By Vikas Meshram* In modern history, few periods have displayed such a grotesque and contradictory picture of wealth as the present. On one side, a handful of individuals accumulate in a single year more wealth than the annual income of entire nations. On the other, nearly every fourth person in the world goes to bed hungry or half-fed.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

'Serious violation of international law': US pressure on Mexico to stop oil shipments to Cuba

By Vijay Prashad In January 2026, US President Donald Trump declared Cuba to be an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security—a designation that allows the United States government to use sweeping economic restrictions traditionally reserved for national security adversaries. The US blockade against Cuba began in the 1960s, right after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 but has tightened over the years. Without any mandate from the United Nations Security Council—which permits sanctions under strict conditions—the United States has operated an illegal, unilateral blockade that tries to force countries from around the world to stop doing basic commerce with Cuba. The new restrictions focus on oil. The United States government has threatened tariffs and sanctions on any country that sells or transports oil to Cuba.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

Development at what cost? The budget's blind spot for the environment

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The historical ills in the relationship between capital and the environment have now manifested in areas commonly referred to as the "environmental crisis." This includes global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, the devastation of tropical forests, mass mortality of fish, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, poison seeping into the atmosphere and food, desertification, shrinking water supplies, lack of clean water, and radioactive pollution.

Search This Blog