Bengaluru, May 7: If there is a hung assembly after the election, the JDS would support those which respond positively to the party, said JDS state president and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Releasing the party manifesto at a programme at JP Bhavan in Bengaluru on Monday, Kumaraswamy said that the JDS is in favour of total six crore people of the state. He would not knock the door of any national party for chief minister post. The party is ready to sit in the opposition place. If any political party accepted the JDS manifesto, then he would think of extending his support to that party, he said.
Some activists and writers have been putting pressure on supporting the Congress instead of BJP. But both Congress and BJP are opportunists. In order to shield the corrupt, they have weakened the Lokayukta. For power, he would not knock the door of any national political party, he clarified.
Media surveys on election outcome were just assumptions. They have given the statistics as per their interest. But the people of the state have interest towards JDS. As the party would get majority on its own, there would be no question of depending upon anybody. If the voters decided for hung assembly as per the surveys, he would not demand support from any party. But the party would extend its support to those who accept stand of the JDS, he said.
It was BJP government which fixed percentage for bill clearance, and awarding contracts and Congress has continued that practice. When the BJP has got the kick-backs through cheques, the Congress has got in cash. It would have been better if Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke after knowing all these, he ridiculed.
The Yeddyurappa government had made burden of Rs 83 lakh crore loan, while Siddaramaiah government has made Rs 1.50 lakh crore burden on people of the state. Both the governments have looted the tax money, he blasted.
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New Delhi: India Today’s anchor and News Director Rahul Kanwal found himself at the center of a social media storm following his remarks on perceived bias in the US media’s coverage of the ongoing presidential election.
In his post, Kanwal highlighted what he saw as clear polarization within the American media, using CNN and Fox News as examples. He claimed that CNN made it appear as though Kamala Harris was receiving widespread support from independents and even some Republicans, while Fox News portrayed Donald Trump as holding a winning edge. Kanwal added that “neutral viewers” might be left confused over which channel represented the real scenario, emphasizing that journalists should leave personal biases aside and aim to present a balanced view.
However, Kanwal’s criticism of US media immediately sparked backlash from Indian social media users, who pointed to the irony in his remarks given India Today’s own reputation. The channel, along with others, is often accused of pro-government bias, and users wasted no time in calling out what they saw as Kanwal’s double standards.
One user sarcastically remarked that, by watching India Today’s coverage, “one would think Modi is winning not only in India but in US and Canada as well,” mocking the channel’s alleged inclination to support the ruling BJP. The comment clearly highlighted what many viewers see as an overt bias in Indian media coverage that often portrays Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in a favorable light, regardless of the topic.
Another comment urged Kanwal to “start with himself” if he truly believed that journalists should leave personal biases outside the newsroom. The commenter implied that Kanwal’s own reporting was far from neutral and questioned the integrity of his critique of American journalists. This response echoed the sentiment of many others, who felt that Kanwal’s post ignored the role he himself plays within the alleged “Godi Media,” a term used to describe Indian news channels perceived to be compliant with government narratives.
Further, one viewer took issue with Kanwal’s focus on US media, questioning why he seemed more concerned with perceived biases abroad than addressing the issues in his own country. “Godi media talking about media bias in the US?” the comment read. “Why don’t you guys do your own job honestly first rather than working against your own country and fooling your audience, then worry about other countries?” This comment struck a chord with other users, who agreed that Kanwal’s focus seemed misplaced, especially given the state of Indian media.
In a similar vein, another comment read, “Thankfully in India, all channels sing only one song, leaving no scope for any confusion. And dude, you talking about personal biases is a little too much.” The remark appeared to address the lack of diversity in perspectives among Indian news outlets, suggesting that most channels convey a single narrative favoring the government, leaving no room for viewers to experience confusion over where each network stands.
Several commenters went further in their criticisms, openly questioning Kanwal’s credibility as a journalist. One user bluntly stated, “What a joke, when you guys do the same during our elections. Take ownership of what you say because soon media will be considered a platform for only comedy.” This comment highlighted the growing skepticism viewers feel toward the news media, warning that unless journalists start to practice what they preach, the media’s credibility may be beyond repair.
Another comment directed at Kanwal was especially sharp, calling him “spineless” and accusing him of operating on instructions from his employers rather than covering real issues independently. “Firstly, Mr. Rahul Kanwal, think about your honesty in your profession. You’re acting as per your employer's instruction, not on real issues. Spineless man, don’t give lectures to others,” the user wrote, suggesting that Kanwal’s journalistic independence was compromised.