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

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