Julian Paul Assange and WikiLeaks need no introduction. They are bywords worldwide for a new kind of media activism through exposes of US governmental secrets, files and classified information, often in explosive socio-political contexts.
Started a few years ago, this was a calling of the time — a time when the mainstream American media failed in responding to the popular urge for vital information on governmental functioning.
In an atmosphere of perceived bad intent and cloak-and-dagger stories, the once-strong and aggressive US media lost its tracks and got too corporatised and pro-government. People around the world cherished every bit of the WikiLeaks exposes.
Clearly, when governments start suppressing information new valves open up and the likes of Assange spring up. That’s a natural progression from one scenario to another, but the inherent danger is all too obvious. There could be those who would act insidiously, like a circus without a ring, and that can harm the state and its interests grievously.
Now, in the case of India, the Union I&B ministry’s punitive action against popular Hindi channel NDTV India over its allegedly objectionable coverage vis-a-vis the Pathankot airbase attack during New Year last, was followed by writs against News Time Assam for alleged violations of programme guidelines released by the ministry.
While both will be taken off the air for 24 hours each, another channel Careworld TV would face suspension of telecast rights for a full week. The government is seen as targeting media organisations selectively with a view to bringing them to task and toe the government line.
The alleged violations committed by these channels differed in nature, but the government’s explanation is that national security issues were largely involved. Rules under the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act, sharpened after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, have been invoked.
There had been allegations of careless reporting of the incidents in and around Taj Mahal Hotel, where armed terrorists were pitted against unarmed civilians, jeopardising the safety of the latter. However, the Pathankot airbase attack was different in nature. It was presumed that every individual inside the airbase was alert and battle-ready, they being military personnel.
TV channels could not show the lack of operational readiness, if any, as they had no access to the airbase. They reported from outside the base only. This goes to show the reporting of both the incidents had been of different natures.
The alacrity of the government could not be missed. Pathankot incident happened in early January, and the government’s response to the coverage of the events, by way of punitive action, came now — in November. This amply shows how — or how less — careful and fast our national mechanism is to react to situations such as these and how ill-managed our administration is.
The beauty of democracy is ‘çhange’. Scenarios will change. No political party can presume that it would be in power for ever.
Today’s ruling party could very easily slide itself into the Opposition benches in a few years’ time. In such a situation, they will only benefit from the presence of an independent media, for raising their voice against those in power in future.
Damaging the fabric of media freedom, as is seen by many to be happening now, will harm the basic tenets of democracy to which the nation is closely and inextricably wedded.
It’s easy to act harsh in the name of patriotism, but in a modern society there should not be any space for those who scream and rant as if patriotism is their personal obsession. No Indian will have to prove to anyone the love he or she has for the motherland. Time has come to silence the trolls, not the media.
In this context, it is worth referring to the early days in history when messengers were sent from one province to another with the message of peace. History records how many a king had slaughtered the messenger, or the doves of peace, if only to resort to war and destruction. In today’s world, the media plays the role of the messenger. Killing the media is tantamount to killing democracy.
