The Indian media’s response to the Supreme Court’s decision of February 15, to strike down electoral bonds as unconstitutional, has been predictable. Sadly, unconscionably and unacceptably predictable. Let’s add condemnable to that as well.
Had it been any other government which had come up with such a scheme and then had such a response from the apex court, ah well. We all know what the media would have done then. Most likely behaved like the media in a democracy should.
The measly, mingy reports which have appeared since follow the template in place since 2014: play down any news which puts the Narendra Modi government in a bad light. I don’t have to repeat this because the template has not changed, but it’s here as a matter of public record.
Since February 15, some very interesting details of how much money has flowed into the coffers of political parties has appeared in public. Mainly via the independent media. That most of the money had gone to the BJP is no surprise to anyone. But the manner in which several companies were arm-twisted into donating, after raids by various government investigating agencies, was remarkably brazen. It is hardly surprising that the Narendra Modi government fought tooth and nail to keep donation details secret.
It’s thanks to independent journalists like Poonam Agarwal, who relentless covered electoral bonds since they were introduced and news sites like the Reporters Collective, that the general public has any clue about what exactly has been going on.
https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/unique-numbers-recorded-by-sbi-investigative-journalist-who-bought-electoral-bond
https://www.reporters-collective.in/electoral-bonds-tracker
It is also amusing that the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, stood before the Supreme Court bench on Monday to complain about the proliferation of social media discussion on the matter. The Narendra Modi government has very effectively muzzled the mainstream media. But it has not managed – despite threats and bullying to private citizens as well as to the companies which own and run sites – to completely stop all social media interactions in India.
An editorial in The Print, on the attacks on international students in Gujarat, who also happen to be Muslim, points out that such attacks are a “diplomatic embarrassment”. This is the crux of how the BJP and its media friends view making any information public: will it embarrass the Narendra Modi government and India or not? If yes, hide the facts. You may argue that other governments have been no different. That is true. But the difference between then and now is that the media did not dance as one Bollywood troupe to the diktats of the government. Unlike now.
That the State Bank of India did not follow the Supreme Court’s instructions on full disclosure about electoral bonds and donors is a massive embarrassment. That the media did not tear the SBI to shreds is the other embarrassment.
But most of all is that the media has not taken the Narendra Modi government to the cleaners. What you have here is clear proof of corruption, of blackmail of sorts, by a ruling party. Just contrast the media behaviour after CAG Vinod Rai’s report on the notional losses to the government over 2G auctions during the second term of the UPA to the revelations after the February 15 SC ruling. In fact, there is no comparison.
And in that contrast, we see the last vestiges of a media in belly-flop stage.
I see no signs of improvement.
Anyone?
Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal.
