Swapan Dasgupta in The Telegraph, Calcutta:
“In Gujarat, the media were neither disinterested observers nor merely biased against Narendra Modi; they were an active participant. From disseminating ridiculous stories about lack of crowds in Modi’s meetings and overplaying the Patel revolt in Saurashtra to Yogendra Yadav’s self-confessed doctoring of the exit polls, the media took it upon themselves to ensure Modi’s defeat. The suggestion that the English-language media were the worst offender is not true; for purely collateral reasons the Gujarati print media led the charge.
“Media activism ensured that a large section of India switched on to their TV sets last Sunday morning fully expecting the downfall of the man who has been painted as a cross between Hitler and Attila the Hun. The results helped catapult Modi to the national stage as the man who could dare—and win. If it hadn’t been for the media becoming a prisoner of their own fabrications, the impact of Gujarat would have been strictly regional.”
Read the full article: Merchant of victory
Cartoon: courtesy E.P. Unny/ The Indian Express
The author has only stated what is fairly obvious. It was made out to be a fight not between BJP and the Congress party, but actually between Modi the demon and the Angrezi media, the darling of the sophisticated secular elite.
i didnt get the bit on the doctoring by the pollster Yadav, anyone care to tell abt that ??
English Media played the role of opposition in the absence of Congress in Gujarat. It has lots of explaining to do.
We should ask: Do we really have free media in India?
Thanks to Mr Dasgupta for being there on so many talk fests on TV spouting Mr Modi’s and the BJP’s talking points with whim and vigour. He was fascinating – one wanted to switch the TV off – but Mr Dasgupta held us in thrall!
Swapan is learned and knows his subject and craft. That’s why the limo libs hate to debate him. Swapan’s been writing now for over 20 years, since he returned from the University of London. He\s a very patient man, throwing all that pearl before swine.
We dont like somebody saying something which the English media does no propound as the truth. Dasgupta is saying what is real at the ground levl and he does not hesitate to pull up theBJP when he thinks they are not on the right track.We need some more scribes like him in this country.
BC,
What is your definition of free media? No one is stopping you from starting a newspaper or a TV channel. If no one wants to read/watch your one-sided material – that is your problem.
And anyway there are religious TV channels on air which you probably draw inspiration from.
Anon Guy>>What is your definition of free media?
Free Media does NOT set agenda, set up stories, manipulate people. It simply reports, in fair and balanced way, and represent both sides.
The views of the Editor/Newspaper can be expressed in Editorial/Op_Ed piece. But news must be free from bias, and represent the facts.
English Media in India has lost its credibility today because it did not follow these time tested methods.
I think in present scenario, India is ruled not by the constitution but by these biased English media. They take no step to project BJP and its sister concerns are breaking down the country.
But the question remained unanswered? During 40 years rule of congress internal problems grew and grew. Corruption touched new height, naxalism entered more into the people. Who is responsible for all these.
These media dont look into Kashmiri Pandits, how these people are living the life of a wretched. They dont look how 3000 sikhs were butchered in 3 days.
They have only one place to look at -GUJARAT. This is called *Desperate Journalism*.
There are 3 crore illegal Bangladeshis in India, congress is allowing them into India, they will doom havoc in later stage. This is dont for vote bank. Media in India is not responsible and is lead by a pack of dogs who dont know what is called journalism.