Yes, we live in a democratic nation and have the freedom of speech. This is a right every citizen exercises, but it’s truly utilized by our politicians and of course the media who is awesome at manipulating someone’s statement to make it breaking news. Some politicians use this right in making unacceptable statements and others utilize this right in condemning their counter politicians. And what we do? Watch the breaking news and give our own opinions owing to our freedom of speech. It’s democracy after all.
Let’s talk about VK Singh, who is the current gudgeon for the opportunistic. VK Singh is the Minister of State for External Affairs, Govt. of India, MoS (I/C) for Statistics & Program Implementation, MP from Ghaziabad| Former Chief of Army Staff, India. He stirred up a controversy in April 2015 when he described newsmen as presstitutes. Although he did it through his twitter post, it was enough to evoke responses from everyone, especially the media who was enraged, and demanded apology. We are free to post anything on social media but he is not since our posts don’t make breaking news. He didn’t just evoke protest for his comment, but also gained support from those who realized how biased the paid media is. The media justifies everything. It says in the name of freedom of speech enshrined in the Constitution, but declared the Twitter post of VK Singh as defamation.
And recently he is being trolled for a comment made on killings of Dalit. He said-“For everything…like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the government is responsible…it is not like that.” This statement was publicized as if he has referred the dalits killed as dogs. He also said – Never associate local incidents with the Central Government. There is an inquiry going on. (Source – Indian Express) It clearly means, he was saying that government is not to be blamed for every incident in a locality. May be he quoted a wrong example in his explanation on the incident, but it wasn’t exactly what it has been proved by the media. For his statement, opposition demanded his ouster while BJP supported him. “As far as statement of the minister V K Singh ji is concerned, he has himself given a clarification of the same. He has said he was misquoted. He never meant what was in fact showed in the media. He really condemns the incident, which happened in Faridabad… I think we should not blow the whole thing out of proportion,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. (Source – Times of India)
He called media presstitudes because they distort the information for the sake of TRP. In this incidence media has proved him right in a way. After the criticism all overm, he apologized in a diplomatic way – “I will be very clear on this that in case, because of this mixing up of two things, which someone else has done, if somebody’s feelings have been hurt, I am apologizing for it. Because some people have created a totally different picture altogether, which was never there. I had no intention of hurting anybody. Because of this imaginative linking of somebody if somebody’s feelings have been hurt, I apologize whole-heartedly.”
So the point is media really biased? The man on top post of defense is really insensitive to make such statements? Or is this incidence just an outcome of hoax created by the media. Before we give opinions and start criticizing, we need to give a second thought. The fault is not entirely of the media, but we, the audience and readers are equally responsible who don’t seem to like normal news anymore. We need spice and thrill in news too, and thus the response on Indrani case where everybody knows every detail since media fed us with every minute detail considering our extraneous interest in the case. So instead of blaming the media or criticizing the victims, we all need to use our freedom of expression wisely and judiciously.
“Think before you speak”
