Deeply Disturbing

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RNI No: TELENG/2017/72414

a jOurnal Of practitiOners Of jOurnalisM

Vol. 5 No. 2 Pages: 32 Price: 20 Deeply Disturbing he Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries APRIL and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 issued by the Union Government in the last week of February is deeply 2021 disturbing for their impact on the constitutionally guaranteed T freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. The government is deceptively projecting them as a grievance redressal mechanism over the content in social media, OTT video streaming services, and digital news media outlets. It is nobody's case that there should be no regulatory mechanism for the explosively growing social media platforms, OTT services, and digital news media platforms and their impact on the people. The clubbing of digital news media outlets with the social media and OTT services are flawed as the news media whether digital, Editorial Advisers electronic, or print h ave the same characteristics as they are manned by working journalists who are trained to verify facts, contextualise, give a S N Sinha perspective to a news story unlike the social media platforms which are K Sreenivas Reddy essentially messaging and communication platforms and use the content Devendra Chintan generated by the untrained and not fact-checked. Likewise, digital media websites have news and editorial desks to function as gate keepers to fil- L S Herdenia ter unchecked, unverified, and motivated news before going into the public domain as in the case of print media. As pointed out in several judg- ments of the apex court, censoring, direct or covert is unconstitutional and undemocratic. There is a strong feeling that the union government is bent upon controlling news narrative which is contrary to its ideology and political interest. There are reports in a section of the press that a Group of Ministers (GOM) at the centre recommended steps to colour code journalists as pro-government, anti-government, and neutral and control the narrative by co-opting those ideologically inclined towards it and con- Editor trolling those who are supposed to be ideologically against. According to reports, there is a suggestion in the GOM report to term the news tshat i K Amarnath critical of the present political dispensation at the centre as fake. [email protected] Interestingly, there was no denial from the government on the veracity of the reports on the contents of the Group of Ministers Report. It may be

noted that the digital news media is giving more traction to the news on Free Frank Fearless the ongoing farmers' agitation than the print and electronic media. A significant section of the media, print and electronic, is perceived to be pro-present dispensation so much so that the farmers' leaders term such media as 'Godi Media'. As The Hindu headlined its editorial, the present rules to regulate the digital media seem to be 'Wolf in Watchdog clothing'. As journalists organisations are demanding, the digital news media on the internet should be brought under self-regulatory Media Council. [email protected] 2 April 2021

By turning the face of the potrait to the wall, you can not change the course of history.

— Jawaharlal Nehru

Space donated by a well wisher April 2021 3 Inside

Postal Ballots for Scribes iJu welcomes

eCi decision Ab employees Speakers at a seminar ask journalists and media to he Indian Journalists Union (IJU) agitate welcomed the decision of the for legal dues stand by the people T Election Commission of India (ECI) to extended postal ballot facility to page 7 page 10 journalists on election duty ahead of assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala. The ECI has allowed postal ballot facility for senior citizens above 80 years, people with disabilities, Covid-19 positive (also suspected and quarantined) individuals and persons employed in A word with A doyen of essential services to enable them to vote. Mandeep Punia Indian Media persons authorized by ECI for journalism democracy: covering the election process on the sensitivity polling day have also been brought under A thing of this category facilitating them to exercise and sensibility 18 beauty their franchise. page 14 page 22 In a statement issued on 10 March the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) President K Sreenivas Reddy and Secretary-General Balwinder Singh Jammu said the Election Commission has addressed a long pending demand of the journalists and introduced a provision for postal ballot facility for the first time bringing journalists under the essential that services voter category. The IJU leaders the First '80s show urged upon the journalists to utilize the postal ballot facility to exercise their Workers` 24 26 franchise, a sacred duty of all in a democ- revolution racy. Several media organisations reflections of welcomed the decision of the Election a nationalist Commission to extend postal ballot facil- the last PaGe 30 ity to journalists. 28 4 April 2021

Union cabinet ministers in the group include (L-R) Abbas Naqvi, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar and S Jai Shankar Union Government's grand plan to Colour-Code Journalists! rom a strategy to "neutralise" of thought." those who set "false narra- The Ministers included: Union I&B tives" against the Minister Prakash Javadekar; Law and IT Government to roping in Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad; External "right-wing parties" from Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; Textiles other countries to seek "com- Minister Smriti Irani; Minority Affairs F mon ground;" from alleged Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi; Minister of "colour coding" of journalists depending on State (Independent Charge) for Sports and how close they are to the government to a Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju; MoS "mix of truth and untruth" in news - these are (Independent Charge), Civil Aviation, and among a range of suggestions in a purported Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh report by a Group of Ministers on how to Puri; Minister of State for Finance Anurag improve "g overnment communication." Thakur; and Minister of State for By The 97-page document, first made public Environment, Forest and Climate Change Krishn Kaushik by Caravan, shows that most of the nine min- Babul Supriyo. isters, who were part of the GoM, flagged The Indian Express reached out to The writer is with "negative" coverage of the government on Prasad, Irani, Javadekar and Thakur but they The Indian Express online and international news platforms and were unavailable for comment. Puri, when based in Delhi. called for supporting journalists "pro our line contacted, said: "I was a member of that com- April 2021 5 mittee. I don't recall receiving any report Puri mentioned that "productive and editors, columnists, journalists and com- let alone clearing any report." Naqvi, supportive journalists who are not work- mentators and they should be regularly when contacted, said he was unaware of ing now can be roped in". Naqvi sug- engaged"; "lack of communication has the report. gested: "We should have a strategy to resulted in the positive things not being The purported report said the GoM neutralise the people who are writing put in an influential manner." held six meetings on June 14, 20, 22, 26, against the Government without facts One of those who attended the June 28 and July 9 in 2020. Members also and set false narratives/spread fake 26 meeting and is named in the report held meetings with "prominent personal- news." was Ravish Tiwari, Political Editor and ities" on June 26 at Rijiju's residence; a Thakur said that the "right wing par- National Bureau Chief, The Indian video conference with "prominent media ties of other countries need to be roped in Express. persons" on June 23 and 24; and a video "The meeting was called at Minister conference with "representatives of Rijiju's residence as a background brief- industry chambers" on June 30. The report said the ing with External Affairs Minister This period coincides with the start Jaishankar on the stand-off at the Line of of the unwinding of the pandemic lock- GoM held six Actual Control," said Tiwari. "No one down and in the wake of the June 15 meetings on June 14, mentioned anything about a GoM. When Galwan incident when India lost 20 sol- I reached, we were told that the External diers in a clash with Chinese troops. 20, 22, 26, 28 and Affairs Minister was caught up and Beijing admitted last month that it had couldn't make it." lost four of its personnel, including a bat- July 9 in 2020. "There was some talk about lack of talion commander, in the clash and a fifth Members also held information-sharing about the LAC officer was injured. stand-off," said Tiwari. "The Minister, Significantly, the report said it was meetings with based on his past experience as MoS, decided to cap FDI in digital media to Home, discussed the LAC but that was 26% to "ensure that the news reporting "prominent off the record. I am surprised how an off- on digital media is not biased primarily personalities" on the-record briefing on LAC has been due to its foreign investment compo- presented as part of a GoM meeting. I nent." That cap was announced by the June 26 at Rijiju's can't recollect anything that was dis- government in August 2019 and rein- cussed which can be even remotely con- forced in October 2020. residence; a video strued as the so-called conclusions in the The report tasked the I&B and IT conference with report." ministries with "Facilitation of Digital The report also mentioned that dur- news and OTT" and stated that a "new "prominent media ing an interaction with Javadekar on mechanism needs to be involved to June 23, national security journalist ensure that OTT platforms become more persons" on Nitin Gokhale suggested that responsible". Indeed, last week, the gov- "Journalists can be colour coded: Green - ernment notified new rules of a media June 23 and 24. fence sitters; Black -against; and White - code that empowers it to intervene and who support. We should support and pro- block access to information online in so that some common ground could be mote favourable journalists". When con- emergency cases and mandate compli- found". The GoM identified 10 "big ini- tacted, Gokhale told The Indian Express: ance. tiatives" or narratives for the government "I deny using the language attributed to The report said it "made its 1st pres- to focus on, including marking the 75th me purportedly in a Group of Ministers entation to the Hon'ble Prime Minister year of Indian Independence; creation of Report". who guided the GoM with his insights $5 trillion economy; Atmanirbhar Bharat; According to the report, S and gave vital inputs". While Prasad, Digital India; and projecting India's soft Gurumurthy, an RSS ideologue who is according to the report, called for a "list power globally, among others. also a director on Reserve Bank of of media personnel and prominent per- The report claimed that on June 26, a India's Central Board, suggested during sons, who are pro our line of thought - meeting was held at Rijiju's house, in the same interaction: "News to carry both nationally and globally," Irani rec- which Naqvi was also present, along mixture of truth and untruth". He also ommended tracking "50 negative and 50 with 12 journalists. And among "obser- talked about "how to change ecosystem positive influencers." Javadekar added vations made by the participants" were: like Pokharan, how to handle media that the "narrative is fuelled by around "around 75% of media persons are hostility." Despite calls and messages, 20-30 people" and "it is very important impressed by the leadership" of Modi Gurumurthy was unavailable for to counter the false narratives in both and "are ideologically with the party"; comment. national and international media." "groups should be formed of supportive (Courtesy: The Indian Express 6 March) 6 April 2021 JOURNALISTS denY role he Wire in a story posted editors, who requested they not be iden- report to contain critical journalism, and on 5 March said that one tif ied since they said they were still look- draw a holistic strategy to get favourable of the journalists, Jayant ing into the matter, said the journalists in media attention reflects the government's Ghoshal, who met Rijiju at their organisation had denied having any deep concern over its negative image. his residence on June 23, discussion with Rijiju or Naqvi. The importance attached with control- 2020, told Caravan maga- While it is possible that the GoM ling the media in the report does not T zine that the meeting was report may have wrongly attributed the appear out of the ordinary considering called by Jaishankar. "We went there to "observations" to the attendees of the that the government at the Centre meet Jaishankar," Ghoshal said. "We meeting, it is not clear if the news organ- depends on public relations strategies. were never informed of any interaction with a GoM on government communica- Censorship and spin doctors tion and no such formal interaction took Curiously, senior journalists themselves place. No notes were taken by anyone on have gone out of the way of their profes- behalf of the ministers present there. I do sional demands to purportedly help the not know how they came up with these Centre in its efforts to censor the media. observations." However, the crux of the report focuses Meanwhile, Nitin Gokhale tweeted on tackling "media hostility" with an in response to a Caravan story on the underlying assumption that any critical report, saying it contains "utter lies". coverage of the government's policies The Wire reached out to more jour- should be deemed as false or fake. The nalists who met Rijiju on June 23, 2020 I&B ministry has been tasked to "pro- and learned that the meeting at Rijiju's mote supportive online portals like Nitin Gokhale: residence was indeed called by the OpIndia" because the government is of He runs and owns Bharatshakti.in Union minister of external affairs S. the opinion that "most of the existing Jaishankar to discuss the situation at the isations concerned intend to formally online portals are critical of [the] India-China border after the Galwan val- complain about this to the government. Government." In addition, the ministry ley clashes. Jaishankar did not attend the has also been asked to track "50 negative meeting eventually but Rijiju and Naqvi image concern influencers" who "discredit" the govern- spoke to journalists. T he meetings were held at a time when ment. "Same fact can be presented with The Wire sought the views of the the Union government was facing sus- different narratives. So, a pool of Spin editors of the newspapers and TV chan- tained criticism over its handling of the Doctors who can do it for the nels whose reporters were quoted in the pandemic, its inability to stabilise the Government should be identified and GoM as having advised the government Indian economy, and the problem of vast utilised," read one of the roles to be taken on the propriety of this interaction. Two unemployment. The emphasis of the up by the I&B ministry. April 2021 7 AB employees agitate for legal dues

was life and death question for them and the agitation would continue until they get their legal dues. The IJU, TUWJ and APUWJ who spoke on the occasion pledged their support to the struggling employees and said they would participate actively in the agitation until their demands were met. From AB Employees Union, V Vijaya Prasad, JSN Murthy, Swaminath, Nagesh and others participated in the procession and dharna.

Andhra Bhoomi employees taking out rally to Deccan Chronicle office on 8 March. Discussion with management The Dy. Chief Executive Officer PSV undreds of journalists their legal dues. Krishnaiah invited a delegation of the from Andhra Bhoomi, a Indian Journalists Union President agitating employees for discussion. Telugu Daily published by K Sreenivas Reddy, Vice-President A delegation led by IJU President the Deccan Chronicle Ambati Anjaneyulu, APUWJ President K Sreenivas Reddy, Vice-President group took out a rally and I V Subba Rao, General Secretary Ambati Anjaneyulu, AB employees demonstrated before the Chandu Janardhan, TUWJ President leader V Chandrasekhar, IV Subba Rao, H Deccan Chronicle office, N Sekhar, General Secretary K Virahath Virahath Ali, Somasundar and other met Secunderabad on 8 March against non- Ali, Telangana Photo Journalists the Dy. CEO and demanded that the legal payment of salaries for the last one year, Association President K N Hari, IJU dues of the employees should be cleared failure to pay terminal benefits for the leaders D Somasundar, Nalli Dharma immediately. Krishnaiah told the delega- retired staff under the banner of Andhra Rao, K Amarnath, Alapati Suresh Kumar tion that they were prepared to pay the Bhoomi Employees Association. and others participated in the procession. dues to the employees but as the case Several Andhra Bhoomi staffers from Addressing the employees in front of was in NCLT there was delay. He Andhra Pradesh an d Telangana came to the Deccan Chronicle office IJU assured that he would do all that was participate in the program. President extended his solidarity to the possible to clear the dues as it was an The Indian Journalists Union (IJU), struggling Andhra Bhoomi employees. humanitarian problem. the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working He said the DC group Journalists (APUWJ), the Telangana was in dire straits due State Union of Working Journalists to mismanagement and (TUWJ) and the Telangana Photo employees were pun- Journalists Association extended their ished for the sins of the support and solidarity to the Andhra management. Convener Bhoomi employees struggle. Earlier the of the Andhra Bhoomi journalists gathered at the Martyrs Employees Association Memorial at Clock Tower. After paying V Chandra Sekhar said homage to the martyrs, they went in a a large number of procession to the Deccan Chronicle newspaper's employees A delegation headed by Sreenivas Reddy discussing office. They raised slogans against the were on the verge of the payment of legal dues to Andhra Bhoomi Staff management and demanding payment of starvation. He said it with Dy. CEO of the DCHL. 8 April 2021 draconian guidelines to tame digital news media ed value system, defined in codes devel- oped over a period of nearly a century". While presenting the guidelines, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the guidelines constituted a "soft touch oversight" mechanism to deal with issues such as the persist ent spread of fake news and other misinformation. He added: "Social media is welcome to do business in India… they have got good business and have also empowered ordinary Indians. But it is very important that crores of social media users be given a proper forum for resolution of their grievances in a time bound manner against the abuse and misuse of social media." As the saying goes "the road to hell is p aved with good intentions". The rules included a chapter on how digital news sites have to be registered before the Ministry of Information and By Balwinder singh Jammu lines "weaponise the restrictive clause of Broadcasting, and further laid out a reasonable restriction, without really mechanism by which streaming video The writer is a senior journalist based spelling out what constitutes reasonable sites featuring original content (which in Chandigarh. He is also the Secretary restriction." are generally not regarded as intermedi- General of Indian Journalists Union. The government camouflaged aries for the purposes of Internet law) restrictive clauses as grievance redressal have to agree to a government-super- he guidelines the forum to empower the people to com- vised "self regulatory system". This was Government of India plain against the social media sites, mes- mandated even though digital news serv- issued in the last of saging apps, over-the-t op streaming ices are not required to register under the February to regulate con- services (OTT services), and digital IT Act and streaming video content has tent in the digital media news publishers. The government sought not been included under the ambit of the including digital media to confuse the people as if the Grievance Cinematograph Act. T news websites are dracon- Redressal Officers to be appointed by the ian and give the government and bureau- Digital News Media sites were news rules challenged cracy vast and unbridled powers. The ombudsman. The government claimed Several digital news sites filed cases in guidelines 'The Information Technology that it was soft touch self regulatory several High Courts. The Kerala High (Guidelines for Intermediaries and mechanism. As a critic of the code point- Court has ordered that no coercive action Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021' ed out that "The idea of self-regulation is should be taken against the publishers of undermine the freedom of the press and to have a visible mechanism to correct the digital news. At the request of the freedom of expression guaranteed in errors that creep into the public sphere Central Government a bench of the Article 19 of the Constitution. As point- despite the existence of a multi-tiered Supreme Court stayed all the proceed- ed out by a senior journalist, the guide- gate-keeping process. There is an accept- ings in various High Courts as it might April 2021 9 transfer all cases to itself for final adju- any misapprehension about curbing cre- rules require messaging apps such as dication. ativity and freedom of speech and WhatsApp and Signal to trace problem- The Foundation for Independent expression". The soft tone notwithstand- atic messages to the originator. While the Journalism (FIJ), a non-profit company ing, these rules force digital news pub- triggers for a judicial order that require that publishes The Wire (thewire.in) in lishers and video streaming services to such an identification are serious its petition before the Delhi Court adhere to a cumbersome three-tier struc- offences, it raises u neasy questions about alleged that the new IT rules are illegal, ture of regulation, with a government how such apps will be able to adhere to as they seek to monitor and regulate dig- committee at its apex. This, in itself, is such orders, as their messages are ital news media portals, even though the unprecedented in a country where the encrypted end-to-end. There is no deny- parent statute (IT Act, 2000) doesn't pro- news media have been given the space ing that there are problems with online vide such powers to the government. The all along to self-regulate, based on the content, which the government has right- petition pointed out that the IT Act does- mature understanding that any govern- ly highlighted now. Its release has n't provide for the imposition of a TV ment presence could have a chilling referred to a 2018 Supreme Court obser- programme code or regulation of news effect on free speech and conversations. vation that the government "may frame portals in any manner. However, this is That the new rules pertain only to digital necessary guidelines to eliminate child sought to be done through the new rules. news media, and not to the whole of the pornography, rape and gangrape The petitioners claimed that even news media, hardly provides comfort, as imageries, videos and sites in content Section 69A of the IT Act, which allows the former is increasingly becoming a hosting platforms and other applica- the government to issue directions to tions", about social media misuse and take down certain content from the inter- fake news, it said. net, doesn't provide powers to dictate It adds: Some amount of tightening content to news media portals. This is of policy is inevitable given new chal- because Section 69A envisages only an lenges. But it would be wrong to imagine 'agency of the government' or 'intermedi- that by implanting itself in the grievance aries' as targets of its directions. redress process or by making platforms However, Part III of the new rules, which share more information, the government seeks to set up a three-tier oversight can solve these problems. It could prove mechanism for the regulation of digital counterproductive in a country where the media, goes beyond the legal or regula- citizens still do not have a data privacy tory powers that the government has as law to guard themselves against excesses per the parent IT Act. committed by any party. Regulation has an important place in the scheme of A wolf in watchdog clothing things, and no one advocates giving a The Hindu in an edi torial under the head- free pass to the digital platforms. But line: A wolf in watchdog clothing: On then, as this newspaper argued earlier, government's move to regulate digital the laws to combat unlawful content are media said that the new rules introduced prime source of news and views. Further, already in place. What is required is their by the Centre in the last week of it is of significant concern that the uniform application. It is also far from February to regulate all types of digital purview of the IT Act, 2000, has been reassuring that this government has had platforms, with the idea of redressing expanded to bring digital news media an uneasy, sometimes unpleasant, rela- user grievances and ensuring compliance under its regulatory ambit without leg- tionship with media in general. The with the law, are deeply unsettling as islative action. appetite for criticism, so vital in a they will end up giving the government a While there is not much that is democracy, is just not there. Some weeks good deal of leverage over online news wrong with the Code of Ethics per se, ago, the government had a run-in with publishers and intermediaries. what is problematic is that it will take lit- Twitter after it defied orders to ban cer- The editorial said "This holds trou- tle to bring this regulatory mechanism to tain hashtags and handles. And given an bling implications for freedom of expres- vicious life. Apart from imposing a com- environment where people are sensitive sion and right to information. Electronics pliance burden on digital publishers - to content, the regulatory mechanism and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, many are small entities - this also opens could become an operational nightmare. while launching the Guidelines, present- the floodgates for all kinds of interven- Worse, the casualties could be creativity ed it as a "soft-touch oversight mecha- tions. The potential for misuse is enor- and freedom of expression. The govern- nism". A government press note termed mous". ment would like to see itself as a watch- it "progressive" and "liberal". It also The editorial said that the new rules dog of digital content in the larger public claimed the rules seek to "address have increased the compliance burden Evening Wrap interest, but it comes people's varied concern s while removing for social media platforms too. Thus, the across as a predator. 10 April 2021 Speakers at a seminar ask journalists and media to stand by the people

ormer Vice-chancellor of Dravidian University and former member of Union Public Service Commission K S Chalam called on the media and F journalists to play a proactive role to thwart the attempts of the Union Government to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). Speaking at a Seminar on Privatisation of PSUs jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Media Education Foundation India (MEFI) on 22 March in the Andhra University Campus in AP Government National Media Adviser Amar Devulapalli at a seminar opposing Visakhapatnam, he said it symbolised privatisation of Vizag Steel Plant at Visakhapatnam on 22 March. the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh who waged a heroic agitation in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) from suggested alternatives. which 32 people laid down their lives to privatisation was important and if the Amar recalled how as a high school achieve it. I V Subba Rao President of media does not play an active role, the student, he heard about the agitation for APUWJ presided over the seminar. Central government would have its way, VSP and the death of 32 persons in it. He Amar Devulapalli, National Media despite opposition from the public". He said that he had spent over four decades Adviser to the Andhra Pradesh govern- said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S in the private sector and had faced issues ment, said that the media was part of the Jaganmohan Reddy wrote twice to the like lack of job security and other ills, s ociety and it had to take up the cause of Prime Minister seeking the continuation which were common in the private sec- the people. He said that "saving the of VSP in the public sector and had even tor, and added that the lack of strong opposition from the civil society emboldened the Centre to privatise Public Sector enterprises. Only a strong public opinion against privatisation could save VSP, he said. Visakha Steel Plant Defence Committee Convenor Ajodhya Ram recalled how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had to bow to public pres- sure and had finally laid the foundation for the plant in Visakhapatnam. He said that the agitation would be intensified further with the involveme nt of all political parties in the State. He said that the plant had secured Rs. 212 crores as net profit despite the COVID-19 situation. Indian National Trade Union Congress IJU and APUWJ leaders floating black balloons against the privatisation of (INTUC) leader G Venkata Rao lament- Vizag Steel Plant at Visakhapatnam on 22 March. ed that while private sector companies April 2021 11 defaulted in the clearing of debts to public sector banks, the Visakha Steel Plant paid all its dues besides paying divi- dends to the central government. Indian Journalists Union (IJU) President K Sreenivas Reddy called on the media and journalists to be the torchbearers of the Andhra Pradesh people's struggle against the privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant as it became part of their lives. He said the government would not have its way if IJU President K Sreenivas Reddy addressing TUWJ Regional Conference at the people raise their united voice. He Wanapathy in Mahboobnagar district on 21 March. said the government which speaks of self-reliant India was trying to sell the PSUs to foreign enteritis. He said due to Only strong organisation the wrong policies of the governments, the PSUs were running in losses but, once privatised, they were turning profit-churning enterprises to the indus- can fight for scribes' rights trialists. The All India Trade union Congress ndian Journalists Union President K Sreenivas Reddy called on the working (AITUC) leader JVV Satyanarayana journalists to wage relentless struggles simultaneously to protect freedom of Murthy said if the government was wor- I the press, freedom of expression and other democratic rights on one hand, ried about the losses incurred by the for better living and working conditions on the other. Addressing the first steel plant, they should have allotted Regional Conference of the Telangana State Union of Working Journalists captive mines to it. Indian Journalists' (TUWJ) at Wanaparthy in Mahboo bnagar district on 21 March Sreenivas Reddy Union executive member Alapati Suresh stressed the need for strengthening the union organisation. Earlier last month the said that lack of civil society response to TUWJ State Executive decided to organise six regional conferences across the the issue concerning the State was state to reach out to the members and strengthen the organisation. Union emboldening the Centre to have their President N Sekhar was in the chair. way in the State. IJU leader Nalli Sreenivas Reddy said the union should concentrate on ethical standards in Dharma Rao Dharma Rao said th e steel journalism and to improve the quality of reporting. While making it clear that plant ushered in the development of the the TUWJ was neither for nor against any political party or government, he said north coastal districts of the state. "If the that the journalists should highlight the problems of the people, on whose behalf steel plant is privatised, the educated the journalists exercise the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the young men and women of these districts press. Regretting that the government did not fulfil many promises the ruling would lose employment opportunities," party made during the general elections, he asserted that the union would he said. IJU National Executive member continue its fight to achieve their legitimate demands. D Somasundar, APUWJ General The IJU President said the Journalists Health Scheme introduced a few years Secretary Chandu Janardhan and others ago was not being implemented properly putting the journalist and their also spoke. families to great hardships. He said the government failed to recognise the journalists as frontline workers even though they reported from hotspots and hospi- solidarity with employees tals during corona time, risking their and their families' health. He welcomed the Later the Indian Journalists Union and statement of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar Andhra Pradesh Un ion of Working extending Rs 5 lakhs aid to the families of the journalists who died due to Covid. Journalists leaders visited the place Telangana minister N Niranjan Reddy asked the journalists to highlight the where the Steel Plant employees, civil problems of the people. He said he strive to solve the problems of the jour- society and trade union activists sitting nalists in the state. TUWJ President N Sekhar asserted that TUWJ was the only on dharna at the Steel Plant gate and representative organisation of the journalists and fighting for their rights and expressed their solidarity with them. The welfare. journalists' union leaders unfurled black TUWJ General Secretary K Virahath Ali said as the media had gone into the balloons to express their resentment hands of political forces and corporate business interests, it failed to reflect against the decision of the central gov- aspirations of the common people. IJU Secretary Y Narender Reddy and others ernment to privatise the Steel Plant. participated in the well attended meeting. 12 April 2021 Farmers commemorate Shaheed Diwas Bhagat singh is their guiding star

The farmers leaders commemorating Bhagat Singh Martyrdom Day on 23 March at the Delhi borders.

By Balwinder singh Jammu The writer is a senior journalist based in Chandigarh. He is also the Secretary General of Indian Journalists Union.

he commemoration of reached the borders of Delhi holding tion events was that all the farmers' the Martyrdom Day of 'packets of soil' collected from the histor- organisations should come under the Shaheed Bhagat Singh, ical places. A large number of people vis- umbrella of a single organisation with a Shivaram Rajguru, and ited Hussainiwala and Banga, the two common flag and agenda irrespective of Sukhdev Thapar on historical places in Punjab, and paid their their caste, religion, and region. Their March 23 this year was homage to the martyrs with reverence. guiding principle should be the ideology T extraordinarily different The speakers at the commemoration espoused by Shaheed Bhagat for the in spirit and practice ever. A large num- events at the dharna site recalled the ide- emancipation of the farmers, farm-work- ber of young men wearing yellow (bas- ology of Bhagat Singh and pledged that ers, and other sections of the working anti) turbans and women in yellow 'du- they would continue their agitation class. Several speakers raised the issue of pattas - chunnis' gathered at the sites of against the three farm laws. They rampant corruption and scams and it farmers' protest on the border of Delhi to recalled the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh should be eliminated to raise the living give a clear and loud message that the and his associates for the cause of toiling standards of the common people. The farmers' agitation was following the masses and get rid of the foreign yoke of slogans of 'Inquilab Zindabad' were footsteps of Bhagat Singh. Interestingly, the British Raj. They vowed to fight anti- raised with a roaring response from the women participants outnumbered men, farmers and anti-working class laws people. and their contribution to the cause was brought by the central government. It is heartening to note that the acknowledged. The predominant sentiment of the people, especially the young men and The youngsters from various places crowds that attended the commemora- women are revisiting the history pages to April 2021 13 understand the ideology of the martyrs and the real meaning of Inquilab. They were asking: did Bhagat Singh and his associates sacrifice their lives to replace the whites with native exploiters or they wanted every citizen of the country to breathe free breaking away from the shackles of slavery. There is a realization that economic inequality should end and everyone, poor or rich, should get equal oppoortunity t prosper and lead a respectable life. They are speaking of the efforts of the political class to divide the people based on religion, region, and caste to perpetuate their hold on power. On a closer examination, it seems that the farmers' agitation has broken barriers among the different sections of the Telangana Minister Srinivas Goud addressing the people. The communal divide among the Hindu and Muslim commemoration meeting of Suravaram Pratap Reddy farmers is diluted to a larg e extent. It can be seen clearly on at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad on 20 March. IJU the Delhi border where the farmers are sitting on dharna for President K Sreenivas Reddy, TUWJ General Secretary the last four months that the thread of brotherhood has Virahath Ali and others are seen in the picture. strengthened between farmers of different regions and castes. They are standing shoulder to shoulder to fight collectively for the bigger cause in defense of their livelihood and dig- Glowing tributes paid to nity. It is worth recalling that the politics of communal polar- ization in Uttar Pradesh resulted in clashes between Hindus Suravaram Pratap Reddy and Muslims in the recent past. It is heartening to note that the farmers' agitation has helped to mend the broken ties tate ministers, journalists leaders, editors and promi- between them. They are now working together to support the nent people paid glowing tributes to veteran editor of protest with an open heart and mind. The machinations of the S bygone years and a pioneer of Telangana Suravaram political parties to create a wedge between farmers of Punjab Pratap Reddy at a Seminar on 'Role of Journalism in and Haryana also failed to a large extent. Even after four promoting Telugu Culture' jointly organised by the months of agitation, the government is not prepared to revoke Telangana State Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ), the three farm laws. The stubble burning issue is still pend- Media Education Foundation India (MEFI), Telangana ing. Food Corporation of India is putting new conditions to Saraswat Parishad and Celebrations Committee as a part of procure wheat and paddy. The proposed Electricity Act will commemoration of his 125 Birth Anniversary at Ravindra cripple the farm economy. Bharati in Hyderabad on 20 March. IJU President The younger generation visiting the protest sites is imbib- K Sreenivas Reddy presided over the seminar. ing the spirit of the farmers' protest and learning a thingr o State minister Srinivas Goud said Suravaram Pratap two to fight for their own rights. They are trying to innovate Reddy was synonymous with social and political new forms of protest in support of the ongoing agitation. The consciousness of the people of Telangana. Paying his farmers' leaders are clear that the agitation is not going to end tributes to the first generation editor in Telangana, he said soon and preparing for a long haul. The ideology of Shaheed the state government woul d celebrate his 125 birth anniver- Bhagat Singh is a guiding star and inspiration for the protest- sary in a befitting manner. Another state minister Niranjan ing farmers and their supporters. Dr. Swaiman Singh, a car- Reddy said the writings of Pratap Reddy symbolised his diologist from America came here only for five days but now concern for the economic and cultural development of the it's been more than three months that he is camping here on Telangana people. the borders of Delhi to serve and treat protestors. In the same Senior journalist G Chakradhar described Pratap Reddy way, several students are setting aside their studies and sitting as a versatile journalist, poet, researcher and writer. He said in the protest for the cause. he inspired Telangana society by his writings. Senior They declare that 'No farmer, No food' and their future journalist Dilip Reddy said Pratap Reddy through writings will be dark if the farmers' agitation does not succeed. The extended his support to the people's fight against the tyran- people at large seem to be disillusioned with the policies of ny of Nizam. He played a prominent role in the develop- the Modi government which is perceived to be pro-business. ment of Telugu language and Telangana culture, he said. At this point, nobody can predict what turn the farmers' agi- TUWJ General Secretary K Virahath Ali, Telangana tation takes but one thing is sure. People are looking for a Saraswat Parishad President Prof Sivareddy, Secretary change. The farmers' agitation is a step forward to realize the Chennaiah, IJU Secretary Y Narender Reddy and dreams of the martyrs who laid down their lives during the Celebrations Committee member Surav aram Kapil and freedom movement. others participated. 14 April 2021 A word with Mandeep Punia sensitivity and sensibility andeep Punia, a journalist from Jhajjar in fected by the happenings around him. "It is not Haryana who was recently arrested from possible to be fairly unbiased for any reporter Singhu-Kundli border while reporting on the and reports cannot be seen through the lens of farmers' agitation, visited Chandigarh on 21 balancing act. The ruling party or the govern- March to attend a seminar organized by ment has huge resources for propagate and 'Punjabi Lekhar Sabha' (Punjabi Writers publicize their version. It is difficult for a vic- M Association) Chandigarh. Dressed casually tim, a common man or general public to and wearing 'Hawai Chappal', the young jour- approach media every time for making their nalist who was victimized for his reportage, voice heard", he said. shared his fears, anxieties and determination He argues that "In such cases, a reporter to face the situation during his police deten- has to go in the public, talk to the victimized tion and subsequent jailing. people, the minorities or affected public to Mandeep recalled the conversation of the hear their side and then report the news after policemen while taking him to unknown giving a perspective and context to the story. place, an old building, after his arrest in He clarifies that when a reporter sees the January. He said the policemen were dis- injustice and suppression very clearly, he has cussing various locations from where his to go an extra step to narrate the story becom- arrest could be shown in the First Information ing the voice of the voiceless. It is not always Report. They were also discussing the strin- possible to insert the version of the opposite gent articles of IPC to insert in the police side in the story. "Do th e official statements report. 'It was a horrifying and cold night and news stories based on press releases con- January 30. I was not sure whether somebody tain the version of the other side?" he coun- outside knew about my whereabouts or when ters. So, then where is the question of 'bal- Pens Cameras they would be producing me in court for the ancing act' or 'bias - unbiased' stands? N further procedure. I was really frightened and Mandeep rues that the attention span of in stress', Mandeep recalled. the readers and viewers are declining sharply. The young journalist narrated how he He is not prepared to read long stories or view overcame the fear and tension after he met the long videos. The new trend is to write just farmer agitators in the Tihar Jail. 'When I was 300-400 words news story o r a few minutes of lodged in a 'chakki' in Tihar along with arrest- video clip which, he says, is not really a news ed farmers, they showed the bruises and wide story. He asserts that 'short and crisp reports' marks of beating and torture on various parts are not real reportage. "It needs to connect all of their body. But , at the same time the farm- the relevant instances, history, versions, infor- ers agitators were clear about their mission mation and data and then weave a good news and they kept on saying that whatever might report. Like ongoing farmers agitation, or a happen, they would not return home till the number of agitations in the past are reported at centre government repeals all the three contro- different phases of time and this kind of versial farm laws.' Mandeep sai d the other detailed news stories become documentation By inmates in the jail used to respond back with for the future references", he says. . Bindu singh same intense and loud voice to the slogan He says it is important that more and more 'Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Zindabad' farmers raised alternative and independent media platforms The writer is Secretary General of Chandigarh several times a day. should emerge so that voice of the voiceless Unit of Punjab and Sharing his views on the 'balancing act' of can be raised. But the question is whether the Chandigarh Journalists journalism, Mandeep says he does not really alternate media platforms have enough Union and Member, IJU agree with the concept. Terming it as a redun- sources and resources to keep themselves NEC. dant concept, he says no reporter can be unaf- afloat. "At present, the independent media April 2021 15

Mandeep Punia speaking at a meeting organised by the Punjabi Writers Association at Chandigarh. on 21 March. platforms like Newslaundry, Newsclick It is important to pay no relation between the content of the and The Wire are working quite well but story and headline and tagline. sustainability is still an issue with all of and support the Once again recollecting the bizarre these groups. Viewers or readers give and stressful incidents and encounters at donation to their platforms but they do independent media to the ground zero reporting of farmers not buy subscription. People should also get fair and factual agitation, he said the ruling side and the understand the fact that if they buy sub- administration tried to defame and hold scription it helps their sustainability", he news. If one can pay back the voice of the agitators but the says. protesting farmers especially from "It is important to pay and support for the newspaper or Punjab were very vocal. He recalled that the independent media for the welfare of the TV channels the farmers while ta lking to their fami- the society and the country to get fair and lies from the jail on mobile phones, used factual news. If one can pay for the subscription, then why to say that they were fine and in newspaper or the TV channels subscrip- "Chardikala" (in high spirits). "From tion, then why not for the media that is not for the media? them I regained my confidence during emerging as the real voice of destitute, my stay in jail. He says he could not get minorities, and suppressed sections of pen and papers to write down notes on society", he asks. He disclosed that the responsibility to take little pain to catch his experience in the jail. He found a pen Caravan magazine had to collect 3 years the sensibility and sensitivity of a hap- dropped by the jail staff while taking funds from a Bengaluru based forum to pening or event. A detailed and factual daily attendance. Since no paper was run it and same is with other independent reporting would also save society from available, he decided to write notes on media initiatives and they also appeal for the 'fear of the unknown' which should his foot and legs with that pen. Of the crowd funding for the sake of sus- be real purpose of the journalism. course, Mandeep Punia was a hero for a tainability. Mandeep says the trend of shouting short while after his arrest, but he says he Mandeep says he has learnt a lot by the TV news anchors and Radio does not want to be seen as a popular or while working in the ongoing farmers' Jockeys on the news programs and extraordinary. He believes in working on agitation. Journalistic skills seems to be debates do not augur well. News anchors detailed and complete news stories and in the rapid experimenting age but it is or host must be careful about his lan- not just passing on information to the important to recapture the problems, guage. He should talk as his normal self. people. He says he always tells the bud- features and mood of rural India that still It is not that loud words and high volume ding journalism students that journalism needs attention and major part of it is can make news or news anchor more is not a glamorous job. Rather it is a very still unfolding. News stories have to be effective and appealing to the audience sens itive, serious and responsible affair. pro duced in detail so that the reader and or viewers. Even in the digital media, the Mandeep says he is a traveller and society gets clear picture of an event or headlines or the taglines are not properly asserts travelling makes a reporter a real incident. A journalist has to own up handled and more often than not thesre i good 'ground zero' journalist. 16 aPrIL 2021 17

CartoonsCartoons ofof thethe MonthMonth 18 April 2021 Tribute to Bodhankar A doyen of journalism

'Yes, what are the leads' often defined the journalistic day for the Hitavada those days''. Born at Nagpur on August 23, 1934 Meghnad Bodhankar had his early education in Orissa and matriculated from Nagpur University. He took his Law degree from Ravishankar University, Raipur. Though his formal journalistic career began in 1959 when By he joined The Hitavada, he along with l s herdenia Balwant Garcha, Sharad Kothari and I had launched 'University Mirror' and The writer is veteran journalist based in 'Zindagi', - both magazines for students - Bhopal. in 1953. Both the magazines were very popular. When we joined The Hitavada A. D. Incidentally except Sharad Kothari Mani was our editor. He treated all of us all three of us joined The Hitavada. After as his equals and used to encourage us to joining The Hitavada, Bodhankar was express our views freely. Because of his posted in Raipur, I was sent to serve the high intellect, capabilities and his deep newly launched Bhopal edition and friendly ties with all the political parties Garcha continued to work in the Nagpur Mani was fortunate enough to enter the edition. After sometime Garcha left for Rajya Sabha and serve in the Upper the USA and Sharad launched a Hindi House for two terms, whom Prakash weekly from his hometown Dubey, group editor of Bhaskar Rajnandgaon. described as doyen of Maharashtra, It was due to his hard work and total Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh jour- dedication to The Hitava da that nalism. Bodhankar rose to the position of editor Bodhankar inherited the glorious tra- of Nagpur edition. From 1983 he contin- ditions of the Servants of India Society. ued as editor till his retirement in 1994. The service cond itions of The Hitavada After that he was appointed as advisor, a staff were excellent. When the Wage unique position and made immense con- Board recommendations came, Hitavada Meghnad Bodhankar tribution to the growth of the Nagpur was the first to implement them. edition. Normally no proprietor would per- apoleon famously said When both of us joined The mit their fulltime journalists to work for that "some are born Hitavada it was owned by the Servants other newspapers. But in this respect also great, some achieve of India Society. This organisation was Hitavada followed liberal traditions. greatness and some have established by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Accordingly, despite being fulltime greatness thrust upon whom Gandh iji treated as his Guru. employee Bodhankar was allowed to them". Meghnad When we joined The Hitavada, Dr. H. N. write for The Patriot, The Statesmen, N Bodhankar was journal- Kunzru was the Chairman of the society. UNI and also Current. Similarly I too ist by birth. Referring to his thirst for During Servants of India Society's stew- was allowed to represent The Economic news Vijay Phanshikar, editor of The ardship Hitavada followed liberal Times, Current, Mainstream, The Hitavada wrote "One simple question traditions. Every shade of public opinion Economic Scene, Socialist India, IPA from Editor Meghnad Y. Bodhankar used to find place in its columns. and Dinman. April 2021 19 Due to his rich contribution to journalism Bodhankar was nominated to the Press Council of India. He was also closely associated with All India Newspaper Editors Conference and Indian Federation of Working Journalists. Both of us were actively involved in trade union activities. He was a faculty member of Nagpur University's Department of Mass Communication, a post he held at Raipur also. He was till recently the Chairman of Maharashtra State Accreditation Committee for Journalists. He went to Seoul, Korea in 1986 to cover the Asian games. Recently he toured the USA twice. He wrote the popu- Engineers Pranab Kumar Gogoi and Ram Kumar lar columns "Nagpur Notes" and "Shooting Gallery" in the kidnapped by ULF (I) militants Hitavada and the column "A shade lighter" both for the Hitavada and the Lokmat Times. His book "A shade lighter" was released in 2002 by the eminent poet and litterateur IJU concerned over Ashok Vajpayee. He was also the President of Film Appreciation Society, Cine Montage and life member of Vidarbha Cricket threats to journalists Association. He had good command over Marathi, Hindi, ndian Journalists Union (IJU) took strong objection to Bengali, Oriya and English. the intimidation of two Guwahati based journalists by He received the Balraj Sahni Award for arts apprecia- I armed militants belonging to the outlawed United tion. He was recently given the "Lifetime Achievement" Liberation Front of Assam (Independent). In a statement award by the Arvindbabu Deshmukh Parishad and "Patra issued on 6 March IJU President K. Sreenivas Reddy and Maharashi" Award by Meghe Paris had, Wardha. He was Secretary General Balwinder Singh Jammu expressed seri- honoured by then Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman ous concern over the fate of two engineers kidnapped by the Singh at Raipur Press Club for his contribution to banned outfit on December 21. Chhattisgarh journalism. The leaders urged the Assam police to probe the matter It was remarkable that he continued to be an active jour- sincerely and also asked the media fraternity in Assam to nalist till the end of his glorious life. Lokmat Times used his stand by journalists P K Gogoi and Dikshit Sarma, associat- services as its advisor. We continued our close friendship for ed with popular digital news outlet Time8. The separatist more than six decades and also shared several ideals Ulfa (Independent), which has been waging a war for an enshrined in the Constitution. He passed away on March 14, independent Assam has abducted two engineers Pranab 2021 leaving behind wife and two sons. Kumar Gogoi and Ram Kumar working for Haryana based Quippo O il and Gas. The militants took umbrage to some Nalin Acharya is comments made by the journalists during a discussion on the kidnap for ransom and demanded an apology. Fearing for the safety of the kidnapped engineers the two Chandigarh journalists immediately tendered an apology but the separatist outfit issued three statements within 20 hours, the last Press Club two of which targeting Dikshit. First they took objection to the body langua ge of Dikshit and next the language of him. New President The IJU leaders expressed serious concern over the development. Recalling the past instances where the Ulfa alin Acharya was elected President of the Chandigarh leaders played this kind of tricks when they had already Press Club in the annual general elections held on 28 NMarch. Saurabh Duggal was declared winner as killed abducted individuals but continued negotiations with Senior Vice President while Rajesh Dhall was elected Vice- the victim families, they requested the Ulfa (I) leaders to President. clarify the whereabouts of Gogoi and Kumar who are expect- Rajinder Nagarkoti was elected as General Secretary. ed to be released on 4 March. Lately the outfit was also try- Umesh Sharma was elected Treasurer. Manasa Ram Rawat ing to blame the scribes for the fate of abducted employees. was elected Secretary and Dushyant Pundir and Yuvraj The Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) had recently urged Kaushal were elected Joint Secretaries. Indian Journalists Union President K Sreenivas Reddy the State police to unearth, if any, conspiracies against the and Secretary General Balwinder Singh Jammu congratulat- media fraternity. The IJU also echoed similar views asserting ed newly elected President Nalin Acharya. They also greet- that if anyone was pushing false information to armed rebels ed the other elected office bearers and wished that under with an aim to settle private scores that must be considered a their stewardship the Club would scale new heights. serious crime. 20 April 2021 Insensitive headlines! e made me mother .... this is the rough transla- The earlier generations used to read some soft- tion of a headline in porn magazines on a very limited scale without Telugu to an interview of a South Indian actress anybody noticing it for the heck of it. It used to recently uploaded on be an uphill task to hide them from elders. H YouTube. The actress entered the film field about three decades ago as a heroine but took up elderly roles get all third-rate filmi, political nonsense with minimal effort. including the roles of mother to the without any effort. If you touch once by Now in the changed scenario, every heroes much younger than her. In the mistake, in this era of touch screen customer is not only a media user but interview, the actress narrated her evolu- mobile instruments, you get an eternal also an eager content generator, a care- tion in the film industry and how she set- downpour of porn! The earlier genera- less editor, an irresponsible producer, tled in the mother characters. tions used to read some soft-porn maga- and also a comment-greedy distributor. She said a film director mentored her zines on a very limited scale without Most of the content generators on social and guided her to take up mother roles anybody noticing it for the heck of it. It media are self-centric a nd the new tech- for a sustained career in the films. She nology giants are using their publicity called him her godfather. But the caption greed to earn super profits without com- was uncivilised and ugly as it was meant punction and social responsibility. to mislead the viewers about the content A lot of people are savouring the of the interview. It was also meant to content available on our smartphones to arouse the curiosity of the viewer for while away their leisure and get some some masala content. It was not only in fun. It was reported that an honourable cheap taste but also an insult to the Media Watch member of the Karnataka Assembly was actress who played many acclaimed caught watching a porn video on his characters. Who will guide the half- mobile phone while sitting in the cham- baked journalists running mushrooming ber. With most of the teens in possession YouTube channels? Who will sensitise of smartphones, it is frightening to think them? And how long one has to bear what sort of influence the easily avail- with this bakwas? able muck has on their impressionable A few days ago, a friend of mine minds. It is impossible to monitor the who returned from the US after higher viewing habits of young boys and girls. studies has shared her disturbing experi- There is every danger that if they get ence. Boys were after me... this was the By used to soft-porn content readily avail- caption given to a promo for her inter- Nagasuri able, it will divert their attention from view in which nothing of the sort was their education. discussed in that context! Just to attract Venugopal Now we are busy discussing and dis- more eyeballs they put her picture and The writer is a well known secting the proposed regulations regard- such caption for the ill-conceived promo. ing OTT content. While we should not She strongly protested against the mis- science columnist and compromise on the right of freedom of leading and vulgar caption and made media researcher based expression as it is a fundamental right them withdraw the promo. They beg and in Hyderabad guaranteed in the Constitution, at the cajole celebrities to get content and then same it is also our responsibility to save they put sensational captions with a our future generations before diverting touch of soft-porn before uploading to used to be an uphill task to hide them their energies for ugly and uncivilized YouTube. from elders and peers! Now with smart- content! We should have reasonable Since all smartphones got YouTube phones, cheaper data, and no worthwhile restrictions on the content of the OTT links in the Facebook app where you can regulation anyone can get any content platforms and socia l media. April 2021 21 Freedom of expression Editor absolved of hate speech charge

he Supreme Court on 25 incited communal tension and might March quashed a crimi- instigate conflict, and a first information nal case registered report (FIR) was lodged. She was against Patricia Mukhim, booked under Sections 153-A (promot- editor of Shillong Times, ing enmity between different groups on in connection with her grounds of religion, race, place of birth, Patricia Mukhim T post on Facebook last residence, language, etc), 500 (punish- year in July where she had decried the ment for defamation) and 505 (state- taken against persons who had indulged violence against non-tribals in ments conducing to public mischief) of in the brutal attack on non-tribal young- Meghalaya. the Indian Penal Code. sters playing basketball. The Facebook The court said that what Mukhim In her petition before the Supreme post read in its entirety pleads for equal- wrote "cannot. by any stretch of imagi- Court said that she is "facing persecution ity of non-tribals in the State of nation be considered 'hate speech'" and for speaking the truth and seeking Meghalaya. In our understanding, there that the charge that she meant to "incite enforcement of rule of law against per- was no intention on the part of the communal tension and might instigate a petrators of hate crime, in the exercise of Appellant to promote class/community communal conflict in the entire State is her fundamental right as guaranteed hatred …. only a figment of imagination." Justices under Article 19 (1)(a) of the "The complaint made by the Dorbar L. Nageswara Rao and Ravindra Bhat Constitution of India". Shnong, Lawsohtun that the statement of heard Mukhim's plea after the The petition further said that the Appellant would incite communal Meghalaya high court in November last offences under Section 500 and 505(c) of tension and might instigate a communal year had dismissed her petition. IPC, being non-cognisable, cannot be conflict in the entire State is only a fig- On July 3, 2020, Mukhim on her investigated and prosecuted vide regis- ment of imagination. The fervent plea Facebook had written: "The attackers, tration of an FIR in view of the statutory made by the Appellant for protection of allegedly tribal boys with masks bar against such prosecution. non-tribals living in the State of on…should be immediately booked. In its strongly worded judgment, the Meghalaya and for their equality cannot, This continued attack on non-tribalsn i Supreme Court said: by any stretch of imagination, be catego- Meghalaya whose ancestors have lived " A close scrutiny of the Facebook rized as hate speech. Fre e speech of the here for decades, some having come here post would indicate that the agony of the citizens of this country cannot be stifled since the British period is reprehensible Appellant was directed against th e apa- by implicating them in criminal cases, to say the least." thy shown by the Chief Minister of unless such speech has the tendency to "Don't they have their eyes and ears Meghalaya, the Director General of affect public order”, the court said. to the ground? Don't they know the crim- Police and the Dorbar Shnong of the area When Mukhim had moved the inal elements in their jurisdiction? in not taking any action against the cul- Meghalaya high court last year, it said Should they not lead the charge and iden- prits who attacked the non-tribals young- her petition seeking FIR against her be tify those murderous elements? This is sters. The Appellant referred to the quashed cannot be entertained as the the time to rise above community inter- attacks on nontribals in 1979. At the investigation agency should be given a ests, caste and creed and call out for jus- most, the Facebook post can be under- free hand to probe into the matter. tice," she had continued, questioning the stood to highlight the discrimination Mukhim had hit out at the Lawsohtun "Dorbar (Council) Shnong" for not tak- against nontribals in Meghalaya. village dorbar (council) on Facebook for ing preventive action. However, the Appellant made it clear failing to identify the "murderous ele- Lawsohtun headman Lurshai Shylla that criminal elements have no commu- ments" after five boys were attacked at a had alleged that Mukhim's statement nity and immediate action has to be basketball court in July 2020. 22 April 2021

Indian democracy: a thing of beauty The biggest threat to Indian democracy is from highly educated people and Foreign Destructive Ideology, said a top source.

ccording to highly placed firmed that India upholds the fundamental sources in the Union govern- rights of every one of its citizens, including By ment, India not only respects the right of victimised Indians to have FIRs G sampath dissent but also protects registered against them for whatever crime is media freedom and human committed against them. The writer is the rights, both of which, the "Contrary to the international propagan- Social Affairs A sources said, enjoy the heav- da being disseminated by anti-India forces in Editor at The Hindu iest protection in an erstwhile State in the collusion with their anti-national collabora- based in Delhi. northern part of India. The sources also con- tors within our borders, the government of April 2021 23 India is a staunch advocate of the right to so immune to hacking and tampering dissent," said a very senior official in the The highly placed that there is no need for an independent Ministry of Home Affairs, who did not expert to verify these claims, nor is there wish to be identified or come on record source's brother, who any need for tallying EVM votes with or even share his phone number. He VVPAT slips. The VVPAT, he pointed shared this information, which is classi- works for leading pro- out, is like the Constitu tion of India. fied as 'top secret' under the Official farmer, pro-worker, "Just because it's there doesn't mean we Secrets Act, through an intermediary should allow citizens to actually benefit from a parallel universe. pro-poor crony from it." Another top source close to the PMO capitalist, said the On the issue of farmer protests, disclosed that India, regardless of what another highly placed source in the its citizens might think, is the world's biggest strength of Agriculture Ministry, who has more than largest democracy and will remain so 20 years of experience as a highly placed even if it becomes a one-party dictator- India's democracy is its source, said farmers were practising ship. When asked about certain remarks free and fair elections, reverse psychology on the government. made by the Special Rapporteurs of the "Reverse psychology?" I said. "How United Nations on India's recent track freer than pigeon does that work?" record in protecting democratic rights, "These farmers at Singhu, Ti kri and the source said, "We don't give a rodent's droppings and fairer Ghazipur border love the three farm laws posterior what the U.N. says or what a than fairness creams. so much that they are scared the govern- random niece of an American vice-presi- ment may never implement them. Have dent tweets." The Indian government's He said Indian elec- you ever felt that fear - when you think official stand, he reiterated, "is that the tions have two special something is too good to be true?" he frequent jailing of those who criticise the said. "That's the sum total of the farmers' government poses no threat to democra- ingredients that make fears about the farm laws. They think cy. Rather, the biggest threat to Indian these laws are too good. So, it's only to democracy is from highly educated peo- India one hundred make sure we implement them that they ple and Foreign Destructive Ideology." times more democratic are protesting AGAINST these farm laws. Do you see the reverse psychology Fairer than fairness creams than a country that at work here?" The highly placed source's brother (HPS- "Not really," I said. B), who works for India's leading pro- has the word 'democra- "Look, now that the protests are out farmer, pro-worke r, pro-poor crony capi- tic' in its name - the there, the government has no choice but talist, said the biggest strength of India's to implement the farm laws. Not imple- democracy is its free and fair elections, Democratic People's menting them will make us look weak. It which are freer than pigeon droppings will look like the government changed and fairer than fairness creams. Republic of Korea. its mind after listening to ordinary citi- Elaborating further, he said Indian elec- zens. The last thing we want is for the tions have two special ingredients that tions, electoral bonds ensure that govern- masses to start imagining that they can make India one hundred times more ment policies post-elections are what have any say in how the people they democratic than a country that actually they should be rather than what the vot- chose to govern them, govern them." has the word 'democratic' in its name - ing public wants. "This governance inno- "And the protesting farmers know the Democratic People's Republic f o vation is India's unique contribution to this?" I said. Korea. the global heritage of democracy. The "Absolutely," he said. The two special ingredients are elec- Indian government deserves the Nobel "In other words," I said, "What toral bonds and EVM-with-VVPAT. Prize for coming up with such a brilliant you're saying is that the farmers are According to HPS-B, who recently mechanism that effectively guarantees a protesting to make sure that their became a Canadian citizen (because you peaceful yet relentless transfer of power demands are not met?" never know how things are going to go and wealth from the 99% to the 1% "Exactly." down in India), it is electoral bonds that regardless of which political party is in "By this logic, any dissent against protect Indian democracy from being power," he said. government policies would become usurped by the voting public. By pointless, wouldn't it?" empowering good-hearted crony capital- reverse psychology "Of course!" the source smiled. ists to provide anonymous performance EVMs-with-VVPAT, he explained, make "That is the beauty of Indian incentives to political parties before elec- Indian elections so safe, so secure, and democracy." 24 April 2021 the First Workers'

Napoleon Bonaparte III revolution

n March 18, 1871, the workers of Paris rose against the rulers of France and established the first worker-run society in Europe after the O industrial revolution. This is remembered as the Paris Commune. Though it lasted for a short period of 10 weeks it was an important event. It was the first socialist revolution in Europe. While Utopian Socialists tried to design communes in Europe, Britain, and America, the Paris Commune was different. It was run directly by the people and was a spontaneous development. Members of the Commune would figure things out as they went on. In this sense, it was truly experimental, but it was also Barricades in Paris during the revolt surprisingly functional. Workers devel- oped their systems of justice, decision ity. In 1848, the workers of Paris increase development, reduce the public making, and resource allocation. It ended attempted a failed uprising. After the sector and open up the economy. only because it was violently destroyed uprising, Napolean Bonaparte III took Bonaparte's despotism was most by the French army. It li ves on in memo- control of the government, abolished obvious in how he dealt with the press. ry of later socialist movements. elections, and declared himself the When he became emperor, he passed a Emperor of France. What followed was law restricting the press's ability to com- before the Commune an authoritarian government. Bonaparte ment on social or political matters. Since the French Revolution, France was positioned himself as a benevolent Penalties would be imposed on members a hotbed of revolutionary political activ- leader, who aimed to reduce poverty, of the press that went against state April 2021 25 policy. Many underground groups tried vided free clothing and books for educa- regroup and come against them. They to organize against this tyrannical tion. The commune also tried to develop did not s top the banks from running, regime, but they had little success in a unique system of education that would which allowed the ruling class of France their time. Despite his despotism, combine theory and practical work. to take out loans and rebuild the army. Bonaparte was popular, especially with Workers were given control over the They were unsuccessful in reaching out his hold on the press. tools they worked with. Interest on debt to people outside of France, and they did In the 1860s, Prussia rose as an eco- and rent was abolished. Workers were not prioritize building up a strong nomic superpower. It aimed to unite var- allowed to collectively take over their enough military to protect against an ious kingdoms under a single German factories, including many that were invading army. These factors would government. This put them at odds with unused before the establishment of the eventually lead to the Commune's down- Bonaparte's government, which also Commune. 43 factories were ruled by fall. Despite its limitations and tactical wanted to co ntrol Europe. Bonaparte did democratic means in the commune. The mistakes, the Commune ran surprisingly not want to enter into war, but his popu- homeless were allowed to stay in unoc- well. It opened up democratic spaces larity was tied to him being an imperial- cupied buildings. unheard of in Europe. ist. As a result, he entered into a losing Though the women in Paris led the war with Prussia. The wars bankrupted rebellion, the men of the commune did How the commune ended France and weakened Bonaparte's hold not grant women the right to vote in the The commune was destroyed when the on France. After Bonaparte was captured council. However, the democratic ethos French Government sent in their troops and exiled from France, France returned to Parliamentary democracy. To retain independence, France had to sign an agreement to disarm its military. After the war, many members of the working class of Paris returned. They were armed as part of the National Guard, whose job was to protect France. They were not covered by the agreement with Prussia. These members of the National Guard began to organize the other workers of Paris. They built upon the earlier organizing that happened during Bonaparte's rule. The new radical wing of the National Guard scared the rulers of France. They tried to recall the armaments of the radical National Guard. When soldiers were sent to recall the arms, they were met by crowds of women from the working class. The Women in Paris Commune army men were ordered to fire on the crowd, but the soldiers refused to fire on of the commune led to the growth of a to destroy it. Nearly 2 lakh soldiers were the crowd of unarmed women and woman's movement within the sent in to crush the commune. The fight- switched sides. The result was, that Paris Commune. Though the commune only ing power of the commune was still in a was now a Worker-run Commune. lasted 10 weeks, women leaders began to nascent stage, not having enough time to gain influence. Occupying abandoned train anyone beyond the original mem- How the commune functioned Churches, women formed a union, La bers of the National Guard who began The commune was run through a coun- Union des Femmes. They demanded the commune, and the French Army was cil, where representatives could be equal wages for men and women, equal aided by the Prussian government. The instantly recalled by their constituency rights for married and unmarried army killed thousands of Parisians and and replaced at any time. There was no women, and recognition of all children, arrested nearly tens of thousands more, mayor and no political class. Every adult be they born in marriage or not. They including hundreds of children. 16,000 male was a member of the National organized workshops for women and prisoners were tried by military tri- Guard, though there was no mandatory ultimately made their way onto the gov- bunals, and 13,000 were found guilty, conscription. The death penalty was erning council. leading to the death penalty, exile, or removed. The commune abolished child The Commune made many tactical imprisonment. labor and night work. Children were pro- mistakes, that allowed their enemies to (Courtesy: Gauri Lankesh News) 26 April 2021 that '80s show

The film is said to be based on n the '80s Mumbai, Amartya Rao (John Abraham) is living real events and if you read peacefully with his father (Rajendra Gupta), kid broth- between the lines, you'll find er Arjun (Harsh Sharma) and glimpses of the simmering anger wife Seema (Kajal I Aggarwal). They belong to of the sons of soil, at a time when the lower-middle class and are happy selling vegetables. The only bane in mills were getting shut in Mumbai their existence is the mafia don and communal tension was on the Gaitonde (Amol Gupte) whose goons harass the hawkers continuously. One rise. Which of course, gave way to day, they throw Arjun off from the rail- way bridge . Amartya is able to save his the rise of regional parties little brother and thereafter declares war on Gaitonde. His antics bring him to the favouring local agendas. attention of Bhau (Mahesh Manjrekar), The mill lands enriched the the local kingmaker who rules through strong arm tactics. Under Bhau's politi- coffers of the builders and gave cal protection, Amartya becomes the uncrowned king of a section of rise to the extortion mafia. Mumbai. His grown-up brother (Prateik MOVIE REVIEW April 2021 27 Babbar) comes back from London and Rohit Shetty saga. film. Everyone has ambiguous motives joins him. Amartya's fortune changes The film is said to be based on real and this kind of gives the film its edge. when he kills a well-connected business- events and if you read between the lines, Everyone is okay performance-wise. man Sunil Khaitan (Samir Soni) whose you'll find glimpses of the simmering Amol Gupte and Mahesh Manjrekar are widow, Anjana Sukhani, puts a 10 crore anger of the sons of soil, at a time when given the most scope and the best lines bounty on his head. Soon, encounter spe- mills were getting shut in Mumbai and and run away with their characters. cialist Vijay Savarkar (Emraan Hashmi) communal tension was on the rise. PrateikBabbar excels in his small but is after his life and the film becomes a Which of course, gave way to the rise of effective role. Emraan Hashmi enters game of one-upmanship between the cop regional parties favouring local agendas. midway to the film and his entry ups the and the gangster. The mill lands enriched the coffers of the scale of the film. He's always been play- Sanjay Gupta is known for his admi- builders and gave rise to the extortion ing a gangster but looks good playing a ration of Hollywood and South Korean mafia. The police and the judiciary were cop for a change. He does have the swag films. So you can see glimpses of The lax in their approach but when cornered, to match John Abraham's charisma and Departed, Infernal Affairs, Mission: resorted to encounter tactics. So that their confrontational scenes make the Impossible -- Fallout and the Godfather slice of history is very much present. It's movie come alive. John doesn't just flex series, to name a few. The men's room just that it's not narrated in a cohesive his muscles; we see a softer side to him fight scene from M.I. has been manner. Gupta has played smart and put as well. He looks good as a man forced Indianised quite well. Watching Emraan the seamier side of Mumbai across to become a gangster and yet is uncor- Hashmi and John Abraham beating each through two characters. One of rupted by the power. He looks best in other like gladiators with a death wish is Gaitonde, who runs the underworld from action scenes, which have become his a sight to behold indeed. It's raw and vis- his jail cell, and the other is Bhau, who forte. Kajal Aggarwal, who plays his ceral and we wish there was more of the has control both over the police and the adoring wife, too stays faithful to her same. The rest of the action, alas, is of underworld. If one looks deeper, one can character. the massy South film variety, with the see the real-life personages they are All-in-all, watch the movie if you're beefy hero having ten goons flying in the based upon. He has shown that people in the mood for some pulpy, '80s kind of air with one punch. There is a mano-a- like Vijay and Amartya are mere pawns, movies, which were full of over-the-top mano fight involving two trucks in the who are easily replaceable. No one is characters and happenings but were climax that looks like something out of a either totally black or totally white in the good, clean fun nevertheless.

A still from Mumbai Saga 28 April 2021 reFleCtions oF a nationalist In his autobiography, Hamid Ansari, Vice-President for two terms, brings to the fore the predicament of Indian Muslims, who still live in the shadow of Partition

By harish Khare The reviewer is a senior journalist based in Delhi.

he Indian republic has had 13 vice-presidents since 1952 and only two, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Hamid Ansari, got two terms in office. Therefore, T it would be natural and tempting to focus on Ansari's vice-presi- dential years, but it needs to be kept in BOOK REVIEW mind that the post of Vice-President is essentially an inconsequential office in terms of power and authority; to the extent, the Vice-President also doubles up as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha does allow the incumbent some wiggle room, but that too can be misleading. Of the 13 men, only one, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, had some political heft but he too was to discover that parliamentary conventions April 2021 29 and politicians' conveniences ensure that Muslim society and its institutions. dimension to the followers of Islam. The a party man gets cordoned off from the For precisely this reas on his reflec- Muslim communities all over, including power vortex. tions on the state of the Indian Muslims India, do subscribe "to an emotional command our attention and respect. bond of 'Muslim-ness.' The sentiment is Civility and grace Ansari acknowledges that from the amorphous as well as real; it is usually The other hat Ansari wore for many very beginning the Indian Muslims have taken for granted but gets evoked at years was that of an Indian diplomat. He lived under "a shadow of physical and times of stress when protection physical was a competent, loyal foot-soldier and psychological insecurity" because they or emotional, is perceived to be at his joyful best when crossing swords were made "to carry, unfairly, the burden required." with Pakistani counterparts at global of political events and compromises that Ansari also tackles the ticklish issue forums. It would perhaps be most resulted from the Partition." And, as the of the majority-minorities syndrome in a rewarding to read the book as the reflec- Sachar Committee Report would record, democratic society. He argues for a need tions of a nationalist India n Muslim. they remain on "the margins of structures to move beyond 'assimilation' and 'toler- Ansari acquaints readers with a different of political, economic and social rele- ance'. Both are inadequate from the generation that valued civility, grace, vance." minority perspective. While 'tolerance' erudition, and took pride in its love for does prohibit discrimination, it does not scholarship, language and poetry. islam and nationalism endorse diversity, and, therefore, leaves He anchors himself firmly in the Given our own constitutional commit- room for the problematic 'other.' And, of nationalist milieu; early in the book we ments, Ansari wants to underline "the course, 'assimilation' simply boils down are informed that his father spurned imperative to recognise pluralism and to absorption of the minority personality Mohammed Ali Jinnah's invitation, on secularism as the normative principles of in the larger, majority crowd. the eve of August 14, 1947, to all senior politics" along with "an unflinching He comes across as a rare breed in Muslim officers to proceed to Pakistan. adherence to principles of equality and these vulgar times. Instead of stridency, The senior Ansari expressed his inability equal treatment." Ansari contextualises the many 'acci- "to change my country." The Ansari fam- He is not reticent about reflecting on dents' of his life with subtlety and sensi- ily was only one of the two at the senior the unresolved and unsettled equation tivity. With enormous reasonableness he level to stay back in India. A choice was between Islam and nationalism. A 'suc- enjoins us to ponder on the matrix of 'ac- made: India was home. cessful synthesis of Islam and national- commodation' and 'acceptance' intersect- ism' is very much feasible, because, as he ing with temptations of majoritarian pol- Modernist at heart argues, invoking Maulana Abdul Kalam itics. Perhaps it is this very gentleness in This confidence in the new, free India Azad, "...nationality is not synonymous reminding us of our obligations to the was justified when Ansari made it to the with religious community since the two social contract inherent in the elite Indian Foreign Service. A meritoc- are in the shape of concentric circles that Constitution that Prime Minister racy was at work. The new arrangements do not collide..." Nor, for him, is there Narendra Modi mocked on the occasion were fair, in letter and spirit, and being a any fundamental incompatibility of Hamid Ansari's last day as Chairman Muslim attracted no discrimination nor between Islam and democracy in the of the Rajya Sabha. Neither leopard is endowed any advantage. Asian Muslim world. willing to change his spots. He locates himself unapologetically Yet, as he puts it, there is global in the modernist milieu. He fell for - then married - a young "cigarette-smoking and sherry-sipping" woman. He did not defer to traditionalists and conservatives. There is not an obscurantist bone in this doubly cosmopolitan man, who is just as much at ease in any western environs as he is well-versed in the civilisational richness of the global Islamic world. Consequently, he never allowed himself to get inveigled in the intrigues and pettiness that soon came to define the Muslim political crowd, especially when Muslim leaders and the masses got entangled with the exigencies of electoral politics. Nor was he unobservant of Picture of a train carrying refugees from Pakistan in the aftermath of the unhealthy tendencies creeping upon partition in September 1947. 30 April 2021 disguised censorship! he ruling dispensation at the centre seems to be mental bureaucrats will act as apex appellate determined to control all the platforms of the authority. What an irony - the committee of bureau- media- print, visual and digital- so that contrary crats will arbitrate on the decision taken by a com- political narrative, criticism, and adversarial report- mittee headed by a judicial officer appointed by the ing do not dominate the headlines. They are not digital media bodies! ready to countenance opposite point of view on The Digital News Media has to file monthly T their policies or ideology. For them, anything that compliance reports besides following Press Council does not conform to their world view is anti-nation- of India guidelines on ethical journalism and Cable al or fake news. They almost succeeded in keeping TV Networks (Regulation) Act norms. The whole the dominant sections of the print and electronic process even though called self-regulation, amounts media under leash which prompted the farmers' to censorship, because in this process the govern- agitation leaders to derisively call it 'Godi Media'. ment will have the right to compla in, adjudicate and They want to assume full control of the Fourth enforce. With so much suo motu power, there is an Estate, the fourth pillar of democracy. inherent danger that the government and the bureau- The greatest contribution of the revolutionary cracy, can arm-twist the digital media platforms to changes in communication technology and the enforce self-censorship under the guise of self-reg- Internet has democratized the dissemination of ulation. Their troll armies will have a field day. the last PaGe news and views in real-time. I know it has its flaws, While announcing the regulatory mechanism, but that can be discussed later. The powers that be I&B Minister claimed that they were creating a found that it is not so easy to control the digital level playing field for all news platforms. He con- media content. In India, it is no more possible to veniently forgot that the journalists' organisation brazenly impose censorship after the experience of and the Press Council itself, time and again recom- the Internal Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. mended that all the platforms of the media should The authoritarian streaks in their ideology do not be brought under one self-regulatory mechanism. brook any criticism or an alternative narrative. The government is now trying to control the Press The government found an ingenious way to Council through the backdoor. keep the recalcitrant digital media under the leash The message is very clear that the present estab- by bringing in The Information Technology lishment wants full governmental control on all By (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media media while payi ng lip service to free press, free- s N siNha Ethics Code) Rules 2021 under the Information dom of speech and freedom of expression, and Technology Act. It is touted as a self-regulatory democratic rights. The new digital media code was The writer is a soft-touch oversight mechanism, mostly manned by brought without holding any consultations with any senior journalist based in Delhi the bureaucracy with the final say reserved for gov- digital media publishers or journalists' organisa- and former ernment. It is sought to be presented mainly as a tions and other stakeholders. They bared their inten- President, Indian grievances redressal system for so-called social tions with the IT Minister saying that "You support Journalists Union media and OTT platforms. The Rules give the police action in case of violence on Capitol Hill in Secretary, I&B Ministry ad hoc emergency powers the US. We appreciated that. But when it comes to to block any content the government considers our pride, Red Fort, you have double standards, you problematic even without adhering to other proce- stand with aggressors." dures. It is clear that they are disturbed with the Under the so-called three tiers Self Regulatory converge the farmers' agitation is getting in digital mechanism, each Digital News Media organisation news platforms. The government is committing a has to appoint a grievance officer who will big mistake by equating Digital Media with social acknowledge the complaints within 24 hours, and media which has no accountability. In digital news resolve them within 15 days. The Digital Media platforms, they have gatekeepers in the news desk. organisations have to appoint a "self-regulating" It should be noted that constitutional democracy body with a judicial officer heading it. Finally an will thrive only when the fourth pillar of Oversight Mechanism consisting of inter-depart- democracy, the media, is free. April 2021 31 32 April 2021

Date of Publication 1st April 2021, Date of Posting 3rd & 4th April RNI No: TELENG/2017/72414 POSTAL REGD No. H-HD-GPO-055/2021- 2023

Printed & Published by Devulapalli Amar. Printed at Sai Likitha Printers, Khairatabad, Hyderabad- 500 004. Owned by Indian Journalists Union, 5-9-60/B Deshoddharaka Bhavan, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad- 500 001, Telangana. Editor: K Amarnath Email: [email protected] RNI No:TELENG/2017/72414 Ph: 040-23232660