Doubting the credibility of Indian Media !

Doubting the credibility of Indian Media !

Raman Sharma 

 

The allegations that INDIAN MEDIA is biased or it is in any way apathetic towards the cause of Jammu and Kashmir is not only baseless but also an insult to the independent and secular character of Indian media, nothing can stop a journalist to bring the truth into light and we are proud that our people in the field are doing an honest job. It is not only illogical or a result of frustration to tag media as communal or doubt the loyalty of their profession but also sufficient to reveal the fact that when the journalists do not dance on the tunes of people they don't even mind to curse them beyond  limits.

 

We must be thankful to the courageous correspondents who even at the risk of their lives are reporting from the militancy-affected areas, the live encounters between militants and security forces are best examples. Well, those blaming the media should understand that satellite channels couldn't be put in services for a crowd of a few hundred people; promoting vandalism is against the code of ethics of Journalism. Again, it is to be remembered that as an when there was any untoward incident in the valley or elsewhere in the state, our journalists not only performed their duty but also lend a helping hand, those accusing might have forgotten the 8th October 2005, deadly earthquake when many media houses at National level set up specail relief funds for the quake victims. It was only the national media that could bring international help for our people in the hour of need. The 1999, Kargil War also depicted the image of Indian Media, it was only because of the quickness, far-sightedness,articulating skills and truthfulness of the Indian media that world community pressurized Pakistan to pull back its intruders from Indian territory and avoided a full fledged war. Indian Media has a vast role to play and it cannot confined itself only to the one or two districts, even not a single human rights violation case is appreciated by any media house, in fact they always criticized and put pressure on government and administrative machinery to probe such incidents. I agree that some people in the media were always available at the disposal of Separatists and other so called "AZADI LEADERS" in the valley but now they too have realized the writings on the wall that these separatists and semi-national leaders have no base after the elections results and mass participation of voters. The role of the separatists has been confined and those chanting the slogans of dual currency had been thrown out of the power. If some people believe that for debacle of these people, Indian media is responsible then we cannot offer them anything. I am also not willing to buy the idea that National Interest should be given up, for so called fair coverage.  Of course,  national interest is paramount and it can never be compromised. There is always a set of moral codes; our people in the media have always shown outstanding courage while reporting from this troubled state. Many a times they too have felt the butts of Guns, faced ruthlessness of the government and security forces but they never compromised but always continued their duty.

 

The massive coverage given to the assembly elections, all the electronic channels at national level did an outstanding job, whether it was hilly district of Rajouri from Jammu region or Zanskar assembly segment there in Ladakh, they reported each and every aspect of these elections. And for a massive participation of voters and peaceful elections we must be indebted to the Indian Media. Those prosecute media for not showing the true picture of the valley (unfortunate  killings ) must not forget the fact that during the 2008 summer the valley witnessed a complete shutdown for almost three months hitting the normal life of common people and giving a big blow to its economy which is primarily based on tourism and Horti-Flori-culture. The Indian media showed utmost sincerity while reporting this tragic and heinous incident but yes this time it restrained itself from felicitating Separatists and the orchestrators of de-militarization.

 

Indian media always remained loyal to the cause of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh, if some people want that the media should have given a wider publicity to the violent incidents there in the Shopian town then they are not the friends of Kashmiris, it is only in these two, months of Sri Amarnath Yatra that the local tourism industry of the Valley gets an opportunity to do trade. If the media have focused on the violent incidents then the tourists-pilgrims would have never crossed the Tunnel and we Kashmiris may have to face another drought like situation for our tourism industry. The Concern of our Journalists is not to appease Madam Mufti or Jenab Geelani but the radius of their responsibility does also include poor Shikarawals and Porters. Already there is global recession and we cannot afford to let our people die because of this vandalism.

 

Now the political people there must redefine their strategy since now media is not available at their finger tips.

 

Moreover it was the unbiased and honest media which helped to pursue the angry people of Jammu to clear the roads during the Amaranth Agitation when the separatists and other semi-national leaders were parroting "Economic Blockade", the people of Jammu and Kashmir should not blame media for petty interests of Individuals because the Media has a responsible duty and especially the so called champions of AZAADI should restrain from targeting media-people. The Indian media understands and recognize the very fact that Kashmir is a part of India and the only problem it has is because of the proxy war initiated by Pakistan and supported by a few hundred greedy leaders here. It is wrong to say that people in the media have painted a distorted picture of Kashmir and Kashmiris; in fact they always address Kashmir as "PARADISE" and Kashmiris Peace-Lovers. Even the Indian Film Industry even after all the risks, invested in Kashmir, and did shoot many films in the valley. The Indians in the Kashmir should not be seen as guests alone but they must be given a brotherly treatment because Kashmir is India and India is Kashmir.

 

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