The Old Fox

Last few months saw the master manipulator in action. In this big game, most of the media outlets were arm-twisted to toe one party’s line. Police and CBI are anyways state instruments. The aim is to defame and defang opposition. Strike where it hurts most. Destroy the credibility.

Lets start with Malegaon blasts. Maharastra ATS rounded up few folks and claimed that it was done by some extreme right Hindu activists to avenge killing of Hindus. To me that looks a very possible scenario given the communal situation in our country. Then began the charade. It was claimed that these folks are a part of bigger Hindu terror network. ATS even claimed that Samjhota express blasts were carried out by these folks and one of the accused a armyman stole 60kg RDX from army depots. It was also claimed that lots of other armymen were involved. Media followed the lead. It was claimed that Hindu terror is on the rise and its as bad as Osama & Taliban. ATS regularly leaked stories to media (which carried them without any scrutiny), those reports suggests that BJP was hand in glove with these folks. The same government whose heart bleeds for Kashmiri terrorists, tortured and humiliated a Sadhvi (femine for Saint). All of sudden the human rights organizations vanished. Remember these are the liberals who want Afzal Guru treated as a state guest.

Now, moving to terror attacks on Mumbai. In here, both state and central govt (both Congress) showed that they are incapable of handling this situation and taking decisions. The public anger brewed against the government. Aha, then came the googly. Media outlets started talking about Political class and how they have failed the public. The failure was pinned on all political parties. I found that to be really absurd. The blame on ruling party was suddenly deflected to blame on all parties. No media outlet talked about Congress soft-pedaling the anti-terrorism measures.
The state election which followed showed how the public got manipulated by Media. Instead of being thrashed by public for being soft on terror, Congress made it a non-issue. The Congress victory in state assembly of Delhi signifies the reach of media.

The latest.. Mangalore incident. A little known outfit called Sri Ram Sene attacked pub-goers including girls and bashed them up. The liberals are up in arms. How come religious zealots dictate terms to them? However this incident raised some interesting points. The whole episode was captured by Media. Who called them in? And why didn’t media inform police. Don’t they have a social responsibility? And top of it all, the same media started questioning on why state government did not arrest the hooligans. Media tried to project that Sri Ram Sene and BJP are linked and thus started a hate campaign against BJP. I will not be surprised if these fringe outfits were getting covert support from the grand old party.

Now, one may ask what these three un-related incidents show. In my view, it shows that Congress is playing its games. The urban middle class has become a staunch supporter of BJP in recent years. The total Lok Sabha seats these class can influence is about 40. And in these times of coalition politics, that’s a big number. Thus Congress wants to win back this constituency by hook or crook. Around the time, CPM pulled out of government and Congress had to bribe opposition MPs to stay in power, Congress started this grand plan. The friendlier media outlets such as Times Of India and NDTV were roped in first. The independent media outlets were targeted next. The makeover of CNN-IBN is a point in the case. This media outlet used to carry both views and used to be some what balanced. After the vote, it became pro-Congress and even refused to air tapes which showed Congress and UPA leaders giving bribes.
The current situation in which independent English media is almost absent is very dangerous. If situation continues, we will land up in 80s situation when Congress was the final word. And that my friend will be put back our country by couple of decades.