Nursing illusions of invincibility

Nobody is above law, and media is no exception. True, and if the promoters of NDTV did indulge in financial malpractices and peccadilloes, then they deserve to be subjected to punitive action. Though the promoters are vehemently denying any transgression in financial transactions, the evidence on the contrary, which the CBI is now attempting to unearth, should have emerged during the first or at the most in the second year of the NDA tenure.

The loans taken by NDTV, allegedly through questionable means, date back to 2008. Considering the proximity of Prannoy Roy to the Congress like Arnab Goswami’s avowed affinity to the saffron brigade it was only to be expected that there would be no questions raised on such transactions if there was any such misdemeanor in violation of established norms.

So, the big question is why has NDA read the BJP government woken up to this alleged financial manipulation after three years? The answer is quite obvious and the motive cannot be camouflaged, going by the timing and the circumstances that synchronised with what appropriately is being termed as ‘witch-hunting’ those inimical to the government failings and deficiencies.

The CBI raids were unleashed to suppress and muffle criticism and dissenting opinions in the media. While, the objections to the raids should not be viewed as attempts to support or absolve the promoters of NDTV, it is the mala fide intent in such actions on the part of the government that portends inevitable danger to democratic values and freedom of speech.

The NDA read BJP again has over the recent past been showing strong symptoms of intolerance indicative of a dictatorial attitude in the making. Emboldened by the success in the recent elections in various states, and ensconced in a comfort zone, the party is perhaps nursing the illusion of invincibility.

If so, the BJP-led government does not seem to be learning from similar blunders committed by its predecessors. Or the other explanation could be that the BJP is suffering from a delusion that such histories are not going to repeat during its rule.

History is replete with instances from Indira Gandhi’s imposition of emergency to Rajiv Gandhi’s attempt to suppress the freedom of the press in which the perpetrators had to beat a hasty retreat after encountering a backlash to such draconian measures.

Right from the enforcement of demonetisation to imposition of ban on beef with innumerable farcical policies and programmes in between, the ruling party has exhibited nonchalance and defiance towards popular opinion and constructive criticism.

The media on its part is not wholly holy itself as is evident from the subjugation and alignment of the channels to either opposition or the ruling parties. The credibility of the media is steadily and surely on the decline with propaganda, hype and publicity replacing objectivity and impartial presentation of news.

Unfortunately and ironically, the bravado on the part of the ruling party can also be attributed to the patronage it enjoys from promoters and editors of news channels and newspapers, who like trapeze artists have demonstrated a skill to gravitate towards the power centres.

By Satyapal Menon