Fourth Estate gone too…………………….?

The recent raids by Central Bureau of Investigation of India at the offices of the founders of India’s founding father of TV journalism Prannoy and Radhika Roy of NDTV on charges of alleged corruption are being seen as yet another attempt by Narendra Modi’s government to arm twist the media. Last Friday, Press Club of India at New Delhi saw the best of the prominent names in Indian journalism making it a point to come out and address the rights of the fourth estate. A significant gesture of solidarity and standing up in an attempt to safeguard the values of the media, rights of the fourth estate.
Something that till now was assumed by the conduct of the certain TV anchors has come out in the open. With none other than Arun Shourie stating “A dog with a bone in his mouth can’t bark.” So they were converting the media into a dog with advertisements in its mouth that cannot bark at them, implied Arun Shourie. Well, Arun Shourie should not need an introduction, however for some; his prominent credentials need to be given here. Arun Shourie has worked as an economist with the World Bank, a consultant to the Planning Commission of India, has been an editor of The Times of India and was the editor of Indian Express at one of the most turbulent times of India –when in 1975 Indira Gandhi had imposed emergency and Indian Express had to undergo a hard time at the hands of the government machinery that was not willing to let go of any story that it would not deem fit. Other speakers too expressed concerns and suggested that the Indian press faces its most challenging task- to do what it is expected to do, or to toe the line.
The urgency in everybody’s arguments suggested that the Indian press faces its most critical challenge since 1975. The point that came forth from almost all the speakers was that the government was trying to control and manage the media by spreading fear. Spokespersons of the ruling Bhartya Janta Party (BJP) and government’s spokesperson have made mark for themselves as rude, arrogant and taking the discussions to a tangent when not comfortable with the question. At times, they have attacked the other spokespersons and even anchors. Thank God till now it only has been verbal! The raid at NDTV came at a time which leaves an impression of intimidation so that the channel would avoid criticizing the government. The raid happened in less than a week of an exchange between young anchor Ms Nidhi Razdan and BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. Sambit Patra had alleged that NDTV has an “agenda” and Ms Nidhi Razdan had asked Sambit Patra to take back his allegation. Sambit Patra went on with his style of intimidating the anchors and Ms. Nidhi Razdan told him that he was free to leave the show.
Going by the history of the investigating agency, CBI has many roles to play. It has remained a political tool for the government and hence for the ruling party too. Raids by CBI are not just raids. For decades, it has been used as a tool to settle scores with adversaries, and the same appears to be the motive behind these raids.
In India, the corner stone of democracy –the free press has been reduced to sing laurels of the government or else it faces actions and reactions. Christopher Dodd very rightly said, “When the public’s right to know is threatened, and when the rights of free speech and free press are at risk, all of the other liberties we hold dear are endangered.” The raids are not only directed at the NDTV, but also send a signal to other media houses that there are boundaries that they can’t cross while criticizing the government. The ruling party knows the role played by media, when it was free under the previous regime. There was free and fair criticism of the UPA government and today, the Congress party stands decimated.
Is there a fear in the ruling party and it want to curb that fear by curbing the freedom of press. Yes, a free press may cause some danger to the repute of the government, but then it is meant to keep a check on the government. India is stuck at a point where the options of airing views other than that of the government are narrowing. Indian Parliament is no longer a place where the opposition wants to interact and raise issues that concern the nation. Opposition too is weak and finds it easier to let the parliament work at its will, and media only exists to glorify the government and the ruling party.