Ravish Kumar criticises mainstream media's Kashmir coverage; Calls it a waste of resources
Journalist Ravish Kumar has recently criticized mainstream media outlets for their coverage of Kashmir, particularly during the ongoing elections in the region. In a post on X, Kumar targeted what is commonly referred to as 'Godi Media'—a term used in India to describe news channels that are perceived as being overly supportive of the ruling BJP government. He expressed concern that these outlets are more focused on promoting party narratives than addressing the real issues faced by the people of Kashmir.
Kumar pointed out that many television anchors set up elaborate sets in front of Dal Lake in Srinagar, but their reports and debates fail to provide meaningful insights or address the region's pressing problems. He accused these media houses of visiting Kashmir merely as a formality, without any genuine intent to explore or report on the ground realities.
"Their focus seems to be on producing promotional content rather than genuine reporting," Kumar remarked. He further criticized these channels for spending large sums of money on what he termed as 'gutter programs,' suggesting that these funds would be better utilized as bonuses for their employees. "Why waste money on meaningless shows?" he questioned.
In his post, Kumar also attached a YouTube link to a report by Manisha Pandey, a journalist with News Laundry, recommending it to aspiring journalists. He praised the team at News Laundry for their commitment to genuine journalism, despite their reliance on viewer support to sustain their operations. "Those who face the daily challenge of raising funds are doing an excellent job, while those with abundant resources are only conducting election tours," Kumar commented.
Kumar's criticism extends beyond Kashmir, as he expressed concern about the declining standards of journalism at the district level across India. He warned that this deterioration is making it increasingly difficult to uphold the integrity of the profession.
The term 'Godi Media' has become widely known in India as a label for media outlets that are seen as being aligned with the BJP and pushing the party’s narratives, particularly during election periods. According to critics like Kumar, these media outlets have abandoned their role as independent watchdogs, instead becoming tools for political propaganda.
कश्मीर जाने वाले गोदी मीडिया के पत्रकार डल झील के आगे सेट लगा कर बैठ जाते हैं।
— ravish kumar (@ravishndtv) September 26, 2024
झील तो झील है लेकिन उसका सहारा लेकर कश्मीर के सामने पड़े सवालों से बच निकलते हैं। इसीलिए आप उनकी रिपोर्ट या बहस से कुछ नहीं जानते हैं। कुछ पता नहीं चलता। केवल एंकर जाने की रस्म निभा देते हैं। उनका…
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
