Why is TOI mixing Army with religion?

This entry to Media Hall of SHAME is shocking news item Muslim general to defend LoC in Times of India.

There was a time when India never associated our defence forces with religion. They were our Jawans defending the nation. But of late it seems media has broken this last taboo also.

Time of India reports

He replaces Lt Gen N C Marwah. Hasnain is only the second Muslim officer to command 15 Corps, a crucial shield against Pakistan's offensive intent.

As if this is not enough Time of India also reports

The last Muslim officer to have commanded the 15 Corps was Lt Gen M K Zaki.

It is shocking to read  TOI making it sound it so dramatic as if Indian Army donot promote Muslim Officers!! 

If you cant defend.. Deflect

It seems the Radia Tapes has split Indian journalists right in middle. A group probably representing older generation is now advocating much needed radical corrective actions to bring repute back to once noble profession and prevent it becoming synonymous to worlds oldest profession. But surprisingly as this older generation tries to cleanse the system another influential section of Journalists, the armchair types who you mostly find in TV chat(they call it discussion programs) have closed ranks.

Media Watch sees Swapan Dasguptas Times of India  column Time to fight the cancer, not join the lynch mob in this context.

Knowingly or unknowingly, It seems that Swapan has completely missed the core issue surrounding the Radiia Tapes. In his naiveness, Swapan tries to explain the outrage as an misplaced anger of “lynch mob” “against India`s entire wealth-generation process” who according to him has shown “gritty determination to overcome a difficult, if not hostile, business environment”

Media Watch is surprised that Swapan who is a regular in twitter has missed the most trending topic in recent times. It didnot read #Ambanigate or #Ratangate but it was #BarkhaGate and #MediaMafia which was trending as number 1 topic in India. So the anger is not against the wealth generation process of business houses. It is not even against Radiia who most of us believe was just doing her job(rather efficiently). The popular anger is directed against a prominent group of media ‘celebrities’ who have overstepped their brief by miles and played fiddle to current day neros of India i.e corrupt politicians. Yes sir…. the anger is against Wealth Generation activities but not of business houses but of Media houses. In short,  the anger is against corrupt Media the fourth pillar of our democracy.

Lastly, Media Watch is taken back by the audacity of Swapan to call ordinary man rising in anger against deep rooted malice as Lynch Mob. It gets more painful considering the fact it is written in an article where he himself praises how commonman of India rose against the tyranny of British Rule. Perhaps if Swapan could move from dance floor (proximity to politics, business and the media) to the balcony, he will realize that there are no Lynch Mob here. He will find here a motley crowd of engineers, businessmen , housewife, student who want nothing but a better and just India. But then it donot surprise us as Swapan was among the first to use the term ‘Internet Hindu’ perhaps he just upgraded the much maligned Internet Hindus to Lynch Crowd.

I am not a doctor but common sense tells me that sometimes its best and safest treatment for malignant tumor is amputation.

Secular reporting at its best

This entry to Media Hall of Shame is a news report pertaining to tussle between locals of Hiregutti village in Uttara Kannada district and National Highway authorities. To widen NH-17 into a four-lane highway, the National Highway authorities are attempting to shift the temple, much to the opposition of locals.

Times of India reports in Sangh opposes eviction of Brahma temple

The eviction of a religious place which has "encroached upon public property" has kicked up dust at Hiregutti village in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district.

The Hindu reports Locals threaten authorities against shifting temple

The clearance of places of worship built illegally on public property has kicked up a row in Hiregutti village of Kumta taluk in Uttara Kannada district.

How can one oppose widening of NH for an inconsequential temple build “illegally on Public property”

Now lets consider some other facts tucked in later parts of the news.

It seems the temple was established during the Kadamba dynasty. Whats was left unsaid was Kadamba dynasty was founded by in 345 CE and was prominent till 525 CE. Yes you heard it right the said inconsequential temple is centuries old! Just to put things in perspective Charminar the most famous mosque and monument in  Hyderabad which also stands in middle of road was build in 1591 a full 1000 year later.

Now we at Media Watch have few questions to reporter and Media houses who published this news

1. How can a temple build in the time period 345 CE - 525 CE be considered to be “illegally on Public property” considering the fact modern India itself was established in 1947!

2. If Charminar which came up a century later can remain on the road why cant Highway authorities find a way to extend the road without destroying the temple! Shoudnt a centuries old temple be considered national heritage

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TOI twists Modis response

TOI Headline says 2G scam would not have happened if I was PM: Modi

Fact – Modi was responding to a specific questions

how he would have tackled the scam had he been the prime minister.

And his response was

Hota hi kyun (Why would it have happened at all)?

And Which is totally different from TOI headline 2G scam would not have happened if I was PM

Seems Rahuls deadly smile' that floors fair brigade in Patna didnot work afterall

Back after grappling with health issues. Thanks for all the wishes.

As I type this blog; history is being made in Bihar. JDU-BJP combine has swept the election. I leave it to people more enlightened than me to write in detail about analysis results. However, I would like to bring out one small but critical point which would further highlight the dubious nature of media reporting during Bihar electioneering

Sometime back Times of India published a feature Rahul's 'deadly smile' floors fair brigade at Patna College in which they reported how the fair brigade of  Bihar were mesmerized by charm of Rahul Gandhi all because of his dynasty, good looks and charm. I am highlighting some relevant portions of the article

''Oh, he's so cute!'' and ''gosh, he's charming!'' The blend of pedigree, politics and his genteel manners had them floored. Someone was even heard saying, ''He's got a deadly smile, my god!''

B Com final year student Samira Fatima could not get over his peaches 'n' cream complexion. ''Rahul is very cute,'' she drooled

If the above feels distasteful, the following line takes the cake

Shweta Punj, a BCom second year student, had googled for info on him and tossed and turned in bed the night before in anticipation of the great meeting.

I am sure the reporter who wrote this would have a very good future as script writer of B Grade movies. It is really shocking how a national newspaper can even publish such a article. 

Coming back to Bihar elections, perhaps for first time in Bihar during this election Women voters outnumbered men voters.

The Election Commission statistics said that in 23 of the 38 districts of Bihar, women outnumbered men in voting while in nine districts, the turnout of voters was more than 60 per cent. Authorities said the overall poll percentage of female voters was 54.85 per cent against an average 50.70 per cent for male voters.

Now, if one were to believe Times of India, Considering that fact that Fairer sex were so mesmerized by congress that Congress should have swept the elections as according. But it seems the fairer sex who even lost their sleep over rahul didnot vote for congress

 

Adarsh Scam: Whose expose is it anyway?

The biggest story 0f the week is Adarsh scam in which congress politicians and Bureaucrats grabbed the housing meant for widows of Kargil War heros

As expected most of channels are falling head over heal to corner credit for the expose.

IBN in its story How IBN7 exposed the Adarsh Society scam claims

IBN7 was the first to expose the Adarsh Society scam. The channel broke the story as early as April 2 of this year. 

Times of India in their article Adarsh turns into Cong nightmare reports

The Adarsh housing scam, which The Times of India exposed a week ago, is getting murkier by the day.

Times Now in their article Chavan revokes occupation certificate to Adarsh claims

After TIMES NOW blew the lid off the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam

We at Media Watch are gladdening to see media’s ‘wholehearted’ effort to expose corruption. Especially one involving congress and its government

However, unlike what media wants us to believe the scam was exposed by Indian Express as early as August Year 2003. Yes you heard it right, the information on Adarsh Scam was in public domain for last 07 years. And the credit for this expose goes to Indian Express. Indian Express in their article Officer in CBI net ropes big fish for prime Mumbai plot reported

Over-riding opposition from the Ministry of Defence, the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, with 71 members, aims to rip up more than 100 trees of the lush Kukri Ecopark on a controversial bit of super-prime land—a little less than an acre valued at Rs 34 crore—abutting critical army and navy defence establishments.

In Mantralay, the seat of Maharashtra’s government, the Adarsh Society’s saga is known for its high stakes and low machinations. The allotment of the land was cleared by the chief minister himself, as are all vacant plots in land-starved Mumbai.

Almost all the information which is being presented today as ‘Expose’ was included in this report! And it seems even CBI was investigating the people involved in this case!

Now the question which media watch has is why is media going out of its way ‘Reexpose’ something which was in public domain for last 07 years? as the objective of this Expose to Expose or to hide something bigger?

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Has Media unleashed headline war against RSS

This entry pertains to media hype that RSS leader was ‘charge sheeted’ by Rajasthan ATS in Ajmer Blast case.

It seems media has unleashed a headline campaign against RSS. A headline campaign without any substance to backup. Surprisingly most of time information in the body is radically different from the headline.

NDTV reports RSS leader chargesheeted for Ajmer Blast However the text in the body reads

Police say there is not enough evidence to frame charges against Indresh yet, but there's every possibility he will be questioned.

NDTV should clarify whether senior RSS leader, Indresh Kumar’s name appear in charge sheet or was he charged? There is a huge difference between the two. A person can only be called charge sheeted if he is charged under sections of IPC! Indresh Kumar is not an accused unless he is charged under sections of IPC!

Times of India also reports RSS leader chargesheeted in Ajmer blast case but in first para itself TOI writes

A senior RSS leader's name figured in the chargesheet in the 2007 Ajmer blast in Rajasthan

TOI continues

ATS sources said Indresh has not been made an accused in the case as further investigation is underway to ascertain whether he had any links with the blast.

So even though TOI headline says RSS leader was chargesheeted, body says he is name ‘just’ figures in chargesheet and he is not even an accused!

IBN also reports on similar line that RSS leader chargesheeted in Ajmer blast case but IBN fails to carry information which even TOI & NDTV carried. Also, IBN mentions that their news report was based on inputs from PTI. However PTI news on same subject is RSS leader's name figures in chargesheet in Ajmer blast. PTI clearly mentions

A senior RSS leader's name figures in the chargesheet filed by the Rajasthan ATS against five accused in the 2007 Ajmer blast.

ATS sources said Indresh has not been made an accused in the case as further investigation is underway to ascertain whether he had any links with the blast.

Please note no where PTI mentions RSS leader was chargesheeted. 

All these makes one wonder is this Hype being created to take nations attention from congress wrongdoings which has been hogging headlines.

PTI report

NDTV report

Times of India report

IBN report

TOI plays with words

TOI report Narendra Modi presided over ’02 riots: Zadaphia tells SIT - The Times of India

The free dictionary defines presides as

pre·sid·ed, pre·sid·ing, pre·sides

1. to sit in or hold a position of authority, as over a meeting

2. to exercise authority; control

For a layman like me; Headline would mean Zadaphia told SIT Modi oversaw (or lead) the riots.

In the body of the news TOI, what exactly Zadaphia told SIT

Zadaphia has told the SIT that it was Modi who kept in touch with senior police officials and bureaucrats during rioting. The former minister alleged that he was sidelined by Modi and was not called for official meetings which were conducted by Modi during the riots.

So Zadapia had actually told SIT that Modi presided during the riots and he called police officers. I am not sure if that’s a crime. Isn't leader of state take direct control over affairs during such an crisis and if I am not wrong Narendra Modi was also the Home Minister in 2002. Isnt it logical that Minister of Home and not his junior (mos for home) presides over meetings

Was Rahuls ‘spontaneous’ train ride in Mumbai stage managed

Flashback:

February 2010. Rahul Gandhi visits Mumbai amidst MNIK controversy and if media is to be believed made history by traveling in local train after breaking his usual security cordon

NDTV reported the incident as Rahul Gandhi snubs Sena, takes Mumbai local

When in Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi decided to do as Mumbai does.
So, in a last-minute decision that undoubtedly left his security men in a cold sweat, Gandhi decided to take local trains instead of the helicopter that was on stand-by for him. He travelled both first and second class, and bought tickets that were paid for by a quick stop at an ATM on his way to Andheri station.

So per NDTV Rahul made a last Minute decision to ride local train which left his security in cold sweat.

TOI also reported the incident though not as dramatic as NDTV. TOI reports In Mumbai, Rahul takes local line, derails Sena gameplan

Rahul Gandhi—in a move that sent out a strong political signal to regional parties like the Shiv Sena and the MNS—forsook the safety of a chopper ride and chose to take the local train to move around in Mumbai for a couple of political functions on Friday.

So Media wants us to believe that Rahul Gandhi breaks security cordon without any forewarning to security personnel.

But it seems fact is something different. Rahul Gandhi himself inadvertently let the cat out in one of his interviews about his breaking of security cordons. Rahul Gandhi's press conference in Kolkata(Part-1) 25th April 2009

It is agreed with my security people that I will do that and they chose a place from the area where I was allowed to do that. I’m not actually breaking security. It is discussed with my security people and they allowed me…

So these much publicized Rahul breaking security cordon to meet common man is all stage managed to nth degree!

Also, Following is the picture of a non peak Mumbai  local train.

 

Now look at the screen Grab of train Rahul traveled. Have you ever seen a Mumbai local so empty.

 

Reminds me of Sarojini Naidu’s comment

To keep Mahatma Gandhi poor, we have to destroy treasures. His poverty is very costly.

CWG Scam: Propaganda war begins

Todays Media Hall of shame covers media coverage of IT & CBI raids in connection with awarding of contracts for the CWG.

Almost all the major media houses (NDTV, TOI, IE & HT) has reported this as

NDTV: CWG scam: Income Tax raids at BJP leader's office

TOI: CWG scam: CBI raids BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal's house

IE: CWG probe targets BJP's Sudhanshu Mittal

NDTV in its news article writes

Among them, the office of senior BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal, whose relatives were allegedly given major contracts for different aspects of the Commonwealth Games.

NDTV continues

On Monday, Income Tax officials visited the offices of the Organising Committee, headed by Suresh Kalmadi. Sources say financial documents linked to the broadcast rights for the Games are being studied for alleged tax evasion

So per NDTV IT Officers ‘Raided’ BJP Leaders house but they ‘Visited’ (not raided) office of OC chairman Suresh Kamadi. So one visit was called Raid and other becomes an innocent visit. I am really tempted to ask NDTV did Kalmadi offer IT officers tea when they were visiting Kalmadi. Also have they forgotten Kalmadi is also a senior congress leader

Surprisingly, what was left unsaid in most of news articles is clarification from IT dept. Hindustan Times in their article CWG probe: I-T raid on BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal carries the clarification -

Let me clarify, these are search operations. The task assigned is to look into the books of accounts and related documents, examine the records and take custody of them, if necessary," the official said.

"We are searching for irregularities, if any, in execution of contracts. We are looking at all contractors. Whoever the contractor is, we are looking. I can't name any specific company or person,"

So these were just search operations and IT officers visited offices of all contractors. Sudhanshu Mittal may or may not be guilty only time will tell but its highly objectionable that media is creating a wrong impression by twisting and misrepresenting the facts.

The timing of this news release also is suspect. This comes just before BJP President was to make a major announcement wrt CWG corruption.

NDTV & TOI raises the bar

This is certainly hilarious stuff. It cant get better(or worse) than this.

First NDTV thinks a athlete hugging Rahul Gandhi should be their headline news. But Pièce de résistance is NDTV claim that boxer kept waving at Rahul during his bout! So NDTV thinks Vijender was waving at Rahul more than giving punches to opponent! I hope the reporter didnot confuse punching with waving..

The medal rounds haven't started but Rahul Gandhi decided to stop by to watch the bouts. Vijender Singh clearly seemed thrilled since he kept waving to the Congress general secretary during his bout.

If NDTV has published this news how can you expect TOI to be lagging in race? They have also published this news Boxer Vijender gets VIP support and as usual TOI language was more flowery.

Rahul Gandhi and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra lustily cheered Vijender Singh during his boxing bout on Friday.

Cheered lustily!! I guess TOI might have accidently pasted a word which they meant to use for their other usual articles in TOI website such as these

TOI also informs us

Gandhi, who is also an avid fan of kickboxing, and Vadra can be seen trying to get one-up on each other in their racing bikes in Gurgaon.

When flowery language is distasteful

This covers a article in TOI 'For the first time I've seen a politician who is totally clear about what he wants'

Though the core thrust of article is questionable, Media watch will not comment on it as those are opinion of private individual. Our objection is towards the flowery language used by TOI to describe Rahul Gandhi

In a classic throwback to his familial predecessors, Rahul, too, is driven by the need to know and internalise the strengths and weaknesses, genius and handicaps, naivete and guile of a people he is expected to lead. He is the king-apprentice . Rahul’s great-grandfather , Jawaharlal Nehru, had done the same on returning to India from England at the age of 21. His grandmother, Indira Gandhi, did it under the tutelage of her father. Rahul’s father, Rajiv Gandhi, too had embarked on a similar enterprise — one that proved abortive thanks to Indira’s assassination and his sudden elevation to the top job

What kind of language is this? One donot expect to see such language from a national newspaper in a democratic country.

The accompanying picture is also amusing. What has Rahul carrying load got to do with Party election?

This picture was first published by Hindu exactly 2 years back under heading Lending a hand. We cannot understand the significance of this picture in this article. By the way, following is analysis of the picture also

 

Seems Changes in CWG Media management team at centre is working

IBN says no Jams in Delhi Despite CWG lanes…

Really…?

TOI says Security men ‘KILL’ civilians

Todays entry to Hall of SHAME is shocking article “For the first time, securitymen kill more civilians than terrorists in J&K” from TOI which paints an extremely negative image of our armed forces.

TOI lays DUSU loss squarely on ‘CWG’

ABVP has swept the DUSU election after a gap of 08 years and It seems (atleast from Headlines) that TOI has found the main cause for NSUI loss in DUSU election …. its not price rise or  ineffective UPA Governance,……..Its CWG..  Of course what will youth know about serious issues like price after all its their parents purse which is getting effected….
Seems TOI also forgot to tell us that Congress leader and ‘youth’ icon, Rahul Gandhi, who is also in-charge of NSUI, had personally reviewed election preparation and candidates etc
If its loss its CWG.. Had it been a win you know who would have taken the ‘credit’ for that

TOI gets most critical info wrong... again

This entry relates news articles pertaining to suspension of IAS officer C Umashankar on the charges of furnishing false information to obtain his community certificate. And how a “small change'” in critical info changes the complexion of news

Meet TOI the Judge and Prosecutor

For a layman like me, it seems that every time UPA Govt is facing heat, media releases the Jinn of Gujarat Riot from the bottle to take away the heat from intense focus on congress wrongdoings. Now there is intense public scrutiny on CWG  & Saffron Terror fiasco and we can see the smoke coming out the bottle.

Whose side of story are they reporting?

Today's entry to Hall of shame is Media (HT & NDTV) report of police shooting at Maisuma locality of Srinagar resulting in serious injury of one Yasir Malik, cousin of Separatist Leader Yasin Malik.
I am personally amazed how a INDIAN national media can be so irresponsible in their reporting!

Strange case of missing critical info in TOI News

Lets play a game.
Please read following two news published by TOI.
1. Ex-Arunachal CM Apang arrested for PDS scam
2. Lads office Raided
There is one common link between these two news items and strangely this very important common link is missing from both of these news item. Answer is very easy and I am sure you will figure it out but if you have missed it. The answer is in the end -

TOI Article on Incest

Todays, nominee to Media hall of shame is this slanderous article published by TOI which claims that Incest is social heritage of Haryana! Even though, I have very serious issue with this article which is making sweeping claims based on few & Isolated instances, I will focus my attention to last section of this article which drags Hinduism also into it.