New Delhi: Renowned journalist Ravish Kumar has strongly criticized the media, referring to it as the "killer of democracy" in his latest tweet following the counting of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His comments come amidst a heated political environment, with the BJP-led NDA securing a lead, yet facing uncertainty over the formation of a stable government.
Ravish Kumar, known for his outspoken views and critical stance towards mainstream media, took to social media to express his discontent. "Godi media is the killer of democracy," he wrote, accusing certain sections of the media of bias and complicity in undermining democratic values.
This statement from Kumar comes at a time when the BJP has claimed victory in around 235-240 seats, falling short of an outright majority. The party is expected to rely on alliances with Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, leading to concerns over the stability of the NDA government. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also voiced similar concerns, highlighting the fragile nature of the potential coalition.
Kumar's remarks echo the sentiments of many opposition leaders who have criticized the media's role in the electoral process. Sanjay Raut recently criticized the BJP's reliance on government agencies like the ED, CBI, and IT to secure electoral wins. He emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values and questioned the legitimacy of the BJP's victory.
In his statement, Kumar implied that the media's partiality has contributed to a skewed representation of political realities, thereby harming the democratic process. This criticism aligns with the broader narrative of opposition leaders who are calling for a fair and transparent political environment.
गोदी मीडिया लोकतंत्र का हत्यारा है।
— ravish kumar (@ravishndtv) June 5, 2024
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New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has strongly criticised the practice of demolishing the properties of individuals accused of crimes, equating it to bulldozing the Constitution and undermining the rule of law.
Speaking at the 13th Justice PN Bhagwati International Moot Court Competition on Human Rights at Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College in Pune, Justice Bhuyan described the trend as "disturbing" and "depressing." He questioned the justification of such actions, often defended as targeting illegal structures, and highlighted their impact on the families of the accused.
"Using a bulldozer to demolish a property is like running a bulldozer over the Constitution. It is a negation of the very concept of the rule of law and, if not checked, would destroy the very edifice of our justice delivery system," he said, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
The practice of ‘bulldozer justice’ gained prominence in Uttar Pradesh under the Yogi Adityanath government in 2017 and has since been adopted in other states. The Supreme Court had previously deemed this approach unacceptable under the rule of law.
Justice Bhuyan emphasised that demolitions impact not just the accused but their families as well. "In that house, his mother stays there, his sister stays there, his wife stays there, his children stay there. What is their fault?" he asked. He further questioned whether it was justifiable to render an accused or even a convicted person homeless through such measures.
On the same day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, responding to queries about the recent violence in Nagpur, indicated that the government might consider similar measures. "The Maharashtra government has its own style of working… bulldozer will roll when necessary," he said.
Violence erupted in central Nagpur following rumours that a sacred text was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Justice Bhuyan, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2023 after serving as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, reiterated the importance of upholding due process and warned against actions that undermine constitutional principles.