Two leading newspapers publish diametrically opposing interpretations.
[Not of a pickpocketing in Pali Hill.
But of the Indian Foreign Minister debating military action.]
The Hindu reports that Mr. Mukherjee has ruled out military action.
While the TOI claims that India refuses to rule out military action.
That 'sources' contradict the Foreign Minister's statements earlier in the day.
So who does the average Indian believe?
The Foreign Minister? Or 'sources'?
Or even, 'highly placed sources'?
Who are these 'sources' who can contradict the Foreign Minister on war?
If there are such influential people, they need to be named, don't they?
Prem Shankar Jha had a bizzare request to NDTV.
[And to be fair, to all news channels in extension.)
He requested them not to engineer war between India and Pakistan.
Indian news channels and Indian newspapers are beating the war-drums.
Check Geo TV and the like on YouTube and you'll hear the same.
"People demand action", "People demand decisive action".
People as we can already see, have been successfully influenced.
Let's hope governments are not.
How many of us saw NDTV interview Mr. Mukherjee?
He says that all options need to be considered.
The reporter then asks him if India has ruled out the military option.
To which he says that at this stage, no option can be ruled out.
[What else do you expect a Foreign Minsiter to say?]
So what do the tickers and headlines immediately proclaim?
'Pranab refuses to rule out military option'.
[This is an aside.
This paragon of India's journalistic fraternity also asked him to outline India's action plan in the days to come.
To which he responded that she will figure them out in the days to come.]
It is a journalist's duty to report.
To voice opinions.
To create awareness.
But it is also theirs, to be judicious.
We have played beautifully into the hands of the perpetrators.
Attention, is now diverted to Pakistan's Eastern front.
If you have the time, do read Haris Guzdar and Harish Khare.
[Aptly on the same page in The Hindu, Dec. 05.]
Two sane voices in a yelling, screaming, frothing crowd.
We could do with sanity.
And we could do without rabid journalism.
No comments:
Post a Comment