Raids on NDTV is Modi government's way of saying it can't stand criticism
The NDA government has always disliked and dismissed criticism, no matter what the truth is.
For example, Union minister General VK Singh, when criticised by the media for his comments "that monitoring the rescue process of Indians stranded in the war-torn country of Yemen is less exciting than visiting the Pakistani embassy", described the media as "presstitutes". This shows how an NDA minister treats the media, especially when he is being "criticised" or "exposed". One of the channels he "abused" was the NDTV.
It is noteworthy to mention that the wily General, who was earlier accused of fudging his birth date to extend his service term as Chief of the Army Staff, was made a Union minister despite his questionable record. A major example of how PM Narendra Modi has a disregard for probity and the due process.
On the morning of April 9, during the Srinagar bypoll, a Kashmiri shawl-weaver Farooq Ahmad Dar, who voted in the election, was "abducted" by the Army, tied to the bonnet of an Army jeep, and exhibited in an arduous 28km journey. Even before the Court of Inquiry (CoI) had decided, the offending officer, Major Leetul Gogoi, was given a commendation.
Major Gogoi accused Dar of being a "top stone-pelter." But Dar was one of the 7 per cent who voted in the Srinagar bypoll. Stone-pelters have never been known to do this. So, it was an "abduction" by the Army, backed by false accusations, with action taken even before the CoI had given its final decision.
Interestingly, this information came to light in late May, around seven weeks later. Was the media gagged? Or did the Army suppress this information?
Shows the great importance of a free and fair media, now under politically motivated attack like the NDTV.
Modi, as usual, despite a media and public outcry, didn't say a word on the commendation or the entire episode. Under such circumstances, Army chief General Bipin Rawat must have had got political clearance.
Emboldened by such support, General Rawat made an incredible statement. He clearly stated that he would prefer if the stone-pelters took up lethal weapons so that the General could retaliate. He also stressed that the people though protected by the Army, should be scared of the Army. This is a new theory of defence/offence coined by Rawat.
As usual, the NDA government was silent. Even Arun Jaitley, finance minister with additional charge of defence, did not say a word. The debate on these outrageous statements was raised by the media, including the electronic media, which also included the NDTV, among many others.
The basic point many are trying to make is that ministers, Army officers, RSS activists and others like them are saying what they want despite the fact that these statements are abusive, incendiary, or not in keeping with the office holder's position.
The news media as well as social media are the main informants for the common man. The government is clearly upset that the fallout of demonetisation as reported by the media, is significantly more critical and in depth than the government statements.
To make matters worse, when the NDA government levelled corruption charges against P Chidambaram, his son Kartik, Virbhadra Singh and other Congress leaders and their relatives, the media did not immediately rush to conclusions, but waited and watched.
That is not good enough for the Modi sarkar. The NDTV has been one of the most outspoken channels from the very beginning, when the popular and path-breaking "The World this Week", enlightened many of those who had TVs.
Further, it was not owned by any major corporate entity with links to the ruling quarters.
Now, the alleged illegal actions between the NDTV and the ICICI Bank, were raised by a disgruntled ex-NDTV employee in 2007. But the CBI raid comes 10 years later.
This clearly appears to be a political vendetta. Some have surmised that senior NDTV anchor Nidhi Razdan, who politely asked BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra to leave her show recently after he alleged that NDTV had an agenda, angered the Modi government. That seems unlikely, though. But it is true that several media channels do have an agenda.
However, most participants know what to expect and come nonetheless. Many of us have participated in media discussions for years.
But while different, even strongly held views, are stated on TV, the quality of information and the independence of the channels matter.
Information and contrarian views are part of a vibrant democracy. But motivated financial raids, partisan use of the law, and denigration of unpalatable views by the ruling bloc, are a very serious assault on democracy.
There should be no place, despite provocations, for such things in a democracy.