Monsoon related disasters continue across India. The landslide in Wayanad is undoubtedly the worst with at least 300 people dead, homes and livelihoods destroyed. Torrential rain, a river changing course and the human lack of respect for nature are all possible reasons for the landslide and subsequent damage.
The media, or sections of it, would rather concentrate on the political dynamics – since Kerala is ruled by the CPI (M) and like all non-BJP states, the government must be severely castigated – than on aspects of the disaster itself. Or, discussions on why opposition politician Rahul Gandhi who is still the MP from Wayanad has not visited yet, with implications that he is somehow to blame.
And yet, as we have one more train accident – three on passenger trains in the last six weeks – in Jharkhand, the legacy media is unable to find any politician to blame for the sad state of the Railways. The excellent article from The Economic Times linked below provides all the details, has a stentorian tone about safety and protocol failures and yet, if you were new to India, you would be excused for believing that India has no railways minister. Is Ashwini Vaishnaw’s name there? Is he blamed or asked to take responsibility? O no. The rules are different for Kerala and the BJP-ruled Central government. Of course. What’s new here, eh?
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/howrah-mumbai-mail-accident-india-rail-joy-ride-or-fatal-ride-15-lives-lost-in-6-weeks/articleshow/112123228.cms?from=mdr
August 1 and India saw the unedifying spectacle of the new Parliament building leaking like a sieve. Not metaphorically, as in politicians sharing juicy details of government gossip with journalists. But actually physically leaking rainwater into the fancy new entrance hall. Journalists who cover Parliament are kept in a cage and possibly some are quite used to be being treated like lapdogs, so they don’t mind. And ruling party politicians mainly share gossip about opposition parties.
If not, there would be have massive fisticuffs about the BJP’s Nitin Gadkari writing to the BJP’s Nirmala Sitharaman requesting her to cut GST on health insurance. O no, we are so circumspect about turmoil within Narendra Modi’s ship, even when there is turmoil, so you would be forgiven for thinking that this media is stuck in the 1970s. Polite news articles are matter of fact: “Gadkari writes to Sitharaman”.
But obviously not with other political parties: “Cracks in India Alliance!!! Is this the end! One party member did not smile at a member of another party! Who is to blame??? Is it Nehru???” and so on is the media response.
But that Parliament building. Now this is a real shame in terms of India’s glory and Modi’s ambitions. But we must be circumspect with blame here. Rahul Gandhi may have caused the Wayanad landslide, or done nothing about it, Nehru has caused the rest of the problems. But our friends in the Central government? No way. So let’s cover the embarrassment of this prime ministerial project being shoddy – not the first time – by shooting from the shoulders of the Opposition:
https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/rs-971-crore-parliament-building-faces-leaks-due-to-heavy-rains-in-delhi-124080100457_1.html
(heavy rain to blame, Congress mentioned in intro, Akhilesh Yadav mentioned early in the article, Prime Minister Modi mentioned lower down as someone who merely inaugurated a building which perhaps mysteriously manifested.)
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/new-parliament-roof-leaking-delhi-rains-akhilesh-yadav-built-with-billions-opposition-jabs-bjp-over-parliament-roof-leak-video-6238329
(Opposition)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/opposition-highlights-new-parliament-buildings-leaking-roof-government-says-small-issue-addressed/articleshow/112209481.cms
(Opposition)
Luckily, they do tell us that this badly made structure cost Rs 971 crore to make.
Don’t worry yourselves. It’s just our money getting washed away.
Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal.
By Ranjona Banerji