News theft is happening in the country, says senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan
Kalaburagi: Senior journalist and founding editor of The Wire, Siddharth Varadarajan, has said that while there is widespread debate over electoral malpractice, a far more serious phenomenon has already taken place in India, the theft of news.
Speaking at the launch of Vartha Bharati's Kalyana Karnataka edition in Kalaburagi, Varadarajan remarked that since 2014, news has been systematically taken away from the people. “Whether vote theft is happening or not is still debated. But before that, news theft has undoubtedly taken place in this country,” he said.
He observed that information relevant to people’s lives and problems is increasingly being kept away from the public. According to him, it has become difficult to carry people’s concerns to political leaders because mainstream media has distanced itself from its core responsibility. “Mainstream media has largely vanished from the battlefield of news,” he stated.
Varadarajan said that during moments when large media houses were expected to stand with the public and deliver crucial information, they instead chose to remain silent or absent. This vacuum, he noted, has made the emergence of alternative and independent media platforms necessary.
“These platforms may be small in scale, but they play a vital role,” he said, describing Vartha Bharati as one such independent media outlet. He accused large media organisations of contributing to the erosion of people’s lives, culture, and democratic values in the country, while asserting that small, independent journalism continues to offer strong resistance.
Recalling that Vartha Bharati began its journey in Mangaluru and has now expanded to the Kalyana Karnataka region, Varadarajan said independent media outlets are no longer isolated. “We are not alone anymore. Vartha Bharati stands with us,” he said.
The event also marked the release of Vartha Bharati's 23rd annual special issue and a compilation of selected editorials, along with a special Kalyana Karnataka supplement.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
