Power of the Media and Mamata

Nidhu Bhusan Das: Our Supreme Court in a judgment stated the Doctrine of Waiver cannot be allowed in India because people of the country, by and large, are not as educated as the US citizens, and, therefore, cannot understand the significance of waiving a fundamental right enshrined in Part lll of our Constitution. If we take this to be the ground reality even to-day, the media, when assumes the role of only a critic, is, no doubt, in advantage against leaders in power, who may be seen as sitting ducks. A section of the media in West Bengal to-day appears to be vehement critic of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had been the darling of such media outlets immediately before the Assembly polls last May and soon after she walked in the Writers’ Buildings. Eloquence of the media is its advantage like the eloquence of the party in opposition in our democracy. It is a disadvantage for the party in power. One should, perhaps, practise reticence when on the saddle. Studied silence is better than stray comment on every issue. Mamata could have parried questions and avoided comment on issues like Park Street incident, killing of a CPM leader in Bardhaman and latest ‘Cartoon Controversy’. In Park Street Rape Case and Bardhaman killing case the persons alleged to be involved were brought to book. Her police arrested also the persons alleged to have assaulted the Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra of Jadavpur University. Professor Mahapatra was arrested on the strength of an FIR filed against him for forwarding a ‘Cartoon’ involving Mamata, Railway Minister Mukul Roy and former Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi to users of Facebook, obviously criticizing the recent replacement of Trivedi by Roy. We have the right to criticize, to satirize. But to what extent? This is the moot point. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines cartoon as ‘an amusing drawing in a newspaper or magazine, esp one about politics or current events.’ Wikipedia defines it as ‘a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art.’ The free online encyclopedia says,’ While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended to satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works. An artist who creates cartoons is called a cartoonist.’ From such identifications of a cartoon we understand it is a drawing or painting, not a picture collage as is seen in the satiric representation forwarded by Prof. Mahapatra. The way Mamata is shown with Mukul may be taken to have overtones which may be thought to be demeaning for any person. During the Park Street Rape debate it was stressed that even a sex worker has the right against being raped. True. It is also true that everyone has the right against being defamed. The picture collage appears to be a direct attack on the Chief Minister. Court will decide on the case filed against Prof. Mahapatra. Debate may go on as to the reasonableness of filing of the FIR against Prof. Mahapatra and his subsequent arrest. Meanwhile, we may look within and decide what is the import of Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution from which the freedom the media flows in our country. Media in this regard is on the same footing as an individual citizen is. Media is not privileged as against a citizen in respect of the freedom of speech and expression in the Article. Media will play the watchdog, raise and facilitate debates on issues but we may ask how a person who turned darling from being a spoiler of Singur project and remained so till the other day is now being projected as one who has only negative traits by a section of the media that owes a reasonable and convincing answer to the question to retain and develop credibility.

Hunger

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Media and Mamata

Nidhu Bhusan Das: Media, it appears, are sharply polarized in West Bengal on the eve of Mamta Government’s completion of one year in office. While two leading Bengali morningers and a couple of 24X 7 Bengali TV news channels are in crusade against the government, certain other media outlets are all for the government. Once, not long ago, a darling of the media, Mamata has, of late, surely lost ground with a section of the media in the state. Meanwhile, three media men have been sent to the Rajya sabha (upper house) of the Indian Parliament by Mamata’s party. None of them belongs to the crusading camp. Media is expected to play the watchdog in democracy. It is to reflect the pluralism, help form educated public opinion in and for a vibrant democracy. It is a fact that different media outlets represent and become mouthpieces of different interest groups and segments of the society, in any democracy. In West Bengal also it is so. Some newspapers, for instance, are openly in favor of market economy and find the remedy for all economic woes in industrialization even on fertile farm lands. They showed their reluctance in reporting police action against agitating farmers in Singur where farm land was acquired for Tata Nano automobile factory, forcibly evicting the farmers. Many were against acquiring fertile land for industry. However, media played a role in creating the climate for change in the state informing the people about the crusade of Mamata against the rule of the Left Front. Mamata Government has, perhaps, begun to show its flaws. Lack of reticence is its greatest flaw till date. Selection of newspapers for the public libraries has not augured well for the government. Whatever be the explanation of the government, the perception in the public mind does not go with it. In fact, it is not wise for a government to create an impression that it is against free flow of information. People do not take it kindly. The stepping down of Dinesh Trivedi as railway minister for Mamata Confidant Mukul Roy did not send out the right message to the people. Till the assembly polls, an overwhelming majority of people might have reservations against a section of her party men but they had unflinching faith in the honesty of purpose of Mamata and her personal integrity. The way the Chief Minister handled the situation following the Amri Hospital fire added a lot to her goodwill. Her statement on the Park Street rape case was unwarranted and it neutralized the impact of good work of the police under her. It appears Mamata is overworked and over burdened. The swelling of her party with people from erstwhile ruling party has led to squabbles and internecine fights. Many new entrants do not have good image. Mamata has to decide if her party should shelter the tainted political elements from the immediate past ruling party. If a firm decision to oust such people is not taken and executed without delay, the party stands to lose in terms of goodwill and popular support. Meanwhile, members of the intelligentsia who were with her in the wake of the Singur-Nandigram episodes have begun to be disillusioned following certain hasty decisions which appear to go redundant. Sycophancy appears to be at work in the party and the government. If it really exists, it should be rooted out in no time.