Wednesday, June 17, 2015

The TV Media Mongers, the 'Fugitives' From Political Fair Play

Posted by Dr. Gopal Unnikrishna Kurup



 The TV Media Mongers, the 'Fugitives' From Political Fair Play




 It is a shame that the bulk of TV channels are increasingly turning in to a sham. If one visits the cantankerous Times Now channel which has abandoned all sense of  fair shake and open-mindedness, and see their frenzy to indulge in a 24 x 7 Sushma-Scindia bashing, led by their loud-mouthed, pretentious Arnab Goswami, and then visit the  many other channels trying hard not to be outdone, one gathers the impression that it is all a frenetic fight for viewer- rating, getting more ads, and thus more profit. Arnab Goswami is so swollen- headed that he believes  he can single handedly bring any government to its knee, no matter how big is the popular mandate for the ruling party. When one serves himself such a big ladle of that  intoxicating concoction of self delusion and megalomania , it is better that he is left to reel in his own juice.

But what are the facts? Let us deal with the allegations one by one.

1. That,  Lalit Modi , former Commissioner of Indian Premier League (IPL), the  cricket body, is an 'absconde'r or a  'fugitive'.

Fact: A competent authority, including a court, has to declare a person a "fugitive'. Lalith Modi has not been declared a fugitive by any court or authority.

2. That a Blue Corner notice has been issued against him by Interpol.

Fact: The Interpol has denied that they have issued any such notice. What turned out in this matter, as the Finance Minister mentioned, is that the Dept. of Revenue Intelligence has issued a "light blue corner notice". But unless the Interpol has accepted this and issued their own notice, this departmental notice has no significance or value. In any case a blue corner notice means merely that the concerned person may intimate his present address, and as such does not necessarily  implicates him in any offense.

3. That, the External Affairs Minister, Smty.Sushma Swaraj requested or gave no- objection certificate from this government to the British government to issue travel documents to Lalith Modi.

Fact: Sushma Swaraj did no such thing. No request  No certificate. She merely said when asked orally, yes orally, that the government has no objection in the matter for the British government to take whatever legally proper action.
And why should she have any objection when Lalith Modi was just like any other citizen with no criminal case- record against him. Especially when the whole context was a life or death question of Cancer surgery on his wife in Portugal? How heinous politics can be to raise objections in such a  predicament of a fellow citizen!

There are other adjunct allegations. They pale in to insignificance and downright comic in the light of above facts  which can only show how malicious is the Congress and the channels.

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