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News Pulled Down, Played Down: Media Bows To Please The Powerful

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News Pulled Down, Played Down: Media Bows To Please The Powerful

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dropping columns, pulling down news stories, playing down or plain and simple ignoring news in the interests of the high and mighty: this ongoing trend seems to have attained new levels over the past few days.

At the receiving end were those pointing out the wrongs committed by persons close to the current dominant political party and its top leaders who, in turn were the obvious beneficiaries. It was, after all, their influence over the media that was behind it.

The alternative media, however, was not cowed down. Fake news buster Alt News carried a piece pointing out that eight websites deleted articles about the speech of Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the Reliance group.

Alt News carried a story headlined “Thou shalt not mock Anant Ambani: Eight websites delete articles about his speech”. Noting that the Ambani junior’s speech delivery style took the social media by storm, it said that publications like ScoopWhoop, DailyO and Storypick found it newsworthy enough to put up a story on this on their website.

ScoopWhoop did a story titled “Anant Ambani Gave A Speech And Twitter Got Its First Meme Of 2018”. The story was pulled off soon, though. Storypick, whose story was in fact sympathetic to Anant Ambani too developed cold feet and pulled down the article.

DailyO in an article mocked these two publications for deleting the story: “Cut to 2018, and a Google search on Anant Ambani now throws up a few more articles, two of which (from ScoopWhoop and StoryPick) have now mysteriously disappeared. Why the sudden spike in popularity for the Young Ambani of House Reliance Jio? As it turns out, he’s become a meme.”

However, DailyO, too, fell in line and quietly deleted the article. Among the other publications which pulled down their article on Anant Ambani’s speech were MensXP, Nyoooz.com, The Social Monk, Social Samosa and International Business Times.

On the other hand, said Alt News, certain publications covered the story positively and those articles are still intact. The headline for the Economic Times article read ’40 years of Reliance: Anant Ambani gives rousing speech’.

The Alt News article recalled an earlier blackout in media of an accident allegedly involving Mukesh Ambani’s son in 2013. News organisations which initially covered the story later dropped it.

Other instances

Adani group, EPW, The Wire: There are other stories that went against the ‘powerful’ and were downplayed/ignored by mainstream media.

Among them was a Gujarat court rejecting the defamation case filed by industrialist Gautam Adani’s Adani Group against Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, senior journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of The Economic and Political Weekly, three other journalists and eminent news portal The Wire.

The Adani Group was so furious over the article that EPW was forced to sack Thakurta.

The article “Modi Government’s Rs 500-Crore Bonanza to the Adani Group” was published in EPW on June 17, 2017. The Wire was also dragged to the court as it had republished the article on June 19.

The Caravan reported: In his November 16 order, which was ignored by the media despite the case being high profile, Principal Senior Civil Judge Jaiminkumar R Pandit, Bhuj, Kutch, rejected the defamation suit against the publishers and authors of the article. The judge, however, ordered the publishers to remove this sentence from the article: “The High Court was misled and wrongly recorded the customs duty on electricity from the SEZ to DTA will not be maintainable as this will lead to double taxation.” The judge also ordered removal of the adverb “Surprisingly” in the same paragraph.

Jay Shah, The Wire: Also missing from media coverage was the other notable case in which the civil court in Ahmedabad vacated its injunction imposed on news portal The Wire barring it from doing any further story on BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah’s business dealings.

In October, The Wire, in a story entitled ‘The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah’, had revealed how the business of Jay Shah grew exponentially – 16,000 fold in a year – after BJP came to power in the centre in May 2014.

Jay Shah filed a defamation suit worth Rs 100 crore against The Wire and got a gag order against the story from the local court.

After that, however, Jay Shah failed to turn up for hearings in the case and his lawyers sought deferment of the hearing. On December 23, the judge, in his order, noted: “The plaintiff in the suit has neither denied or questioned the facts contained in the reports obtained through the Registrar of Companies and has also not objected to the data that has been published in the said article. It is also not the case of the plaintiff that the data obtained is a misleading one or the same is misrepresented by the defendants thereby depicting a false picture of defendant’s company”.

The court ruled that its injunction is now restricted only to the line “Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister/elected as Prime Minister”.

It is not limited to news being ignored or downplayed and articles being removed. Inconvenient writers, too, are removed.

Actor Prakash Raj, who has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hindutva, has tweeted  about Udayavani deciding to drop his column, calling it a ‘surgical strike’ by ‘invisible hands’, adding, “do you think we can’t see you”.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Udayavani’s editor Shiva Subramanya denied allegations that the discontinuation of Raj’s column was dictated by political motives, reported The News Minute. “He has written a lot for us so we need to change the team. We have to give a chance to new writers. It is a routine exercise in every newspaper. What is special in it? There is no hidden agenda, you have to ask him what it is,” Subramanya told The News Minute.

Raj had earlier lashed out at Modi for being silent on Gauri Lankesh’s murder and had also denounced Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde’s remarks on secularism and equating Hindutva and nationalism.

Coincidentally, one of the members of the Pai family – which owns the Manipal group to which Udayavani belongs – has an investment in Republic TV, reported The News Minute. The controversial anchor Arnab Goswami, known for his pro-BJP, pro-Modi bias, heads the Republic TV.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Delhi LG VK Saxena directs probe into remarks against Kangana Ranaut by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

The Delhi Police will investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose.

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Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today sought a detailed probe from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in relation with the alleged defamatory social media post made by Congress’s Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG seeking probe and registration of an FIR against Shrinate for outraging the modesty of a woman. Subsequently, the Delhi LG has forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, directing a scientific investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary.

Reports said that the Delhi Police will also investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose. A major controversy erupted on Monday after an objectionable post from Supriya Shrinate’s social media handle against Kangana Ranaut, who has been announced as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Responding to the remarks, Kangana Ranaut said that they must free the daughters from the shackles of prejudices and must rise above the curiosity about their body parts. She added that people must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur. She concluded that every woman deserves her dignity. As the controversy intensified, the Congress leader asserted that someone else had posted the objectionable content from her handle. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut. The Election Commission observed that the remarks are undignified and in a bad taste. The election body asked the Congress leader to respond to the commission by Friday. In the notice, the Election Commission stated that the statements made by the leader is prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

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India News

Bollywood actor Govinda joins Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now.

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Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In 2004 Govinda contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the nickname of a giant slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. He resigned from the party and said that he had decided to take a break from politics.

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now. He said his parents had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hedge met the Bollywood actor at his residence in Juhu. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the actor’s joining the Shiv Sena does not come with a rider. Govinda said whatever work is assigned to him, he will do it to the best of the ability. He said he was a part of the 14th Lok Sabha and has returned to politics after 14 years.

Speaking about his role in politics, the actor said he would transform the film city of Mumbai. He did not reply when he was asked about contesting elections. Govinda said everybody has seen the same level of progress in Maharashtra in the last 2 years, as it has been seen in the country in the last 10 years. He said he is going to focus on the beautification of the state and work towards the growth of art and culture.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora welcomed Govida into the party and said he has known the veteran Bollywood actor for almost 25 years. He recalled the 2004 election and said both of them had fought elections together.

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India News

To browbeat, bully others is vintage Congress, says PM Modi after lawyers express concern over attempts to undermine judiciary

Lawyers, including Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud, alleging that a vested interest group is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, particularly in cases of corruption involving politicians.

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PM Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party after more than 600 lawyers and some bar associations across the country wrote to the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressing concerns over attempts to undermine the judiciary’s integrity using political and professional pressure.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi wrote that to browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. He recalled that five decades ago, the party itself had called for a committed judiciary, adding that they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests, but desist from any commitment towards the nation. He concluded that no wonder, 140 crore Indians are rejecting them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments followed after lawyers, including Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud, alleging that a vested interest group is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, particularly in cases of corruption involving politicians.

The lawyers said the tactics used by the vested interest group are damaging the courts and threatening democratic fabric. They stated that Chief Justice Chandrachud’s leadership is crucial in these tough times and the Supreme Court should stand strong, adding it is not the time to maintain dignified silence.

Without naming, the letter also targeted a section of lawyers and alleged they defend politicians by day and then try to influence judges through the media at night. Furthermore, they claimed that some elements are trying to influence who the judges are in their cases and spread lies on social media to put pressure on the judges to decide in a particular way.

In addition, the All Manipur Bar Association had also written to CJI DY Chandrachud highlighting the need to speak out against underhanded attacks on the judiciary on Wednesday. In its letter, the bar association said that it was extremely concerned about recent trends where vested interest groups were trying to defame the courts with frivolous logic and stale political agendas.

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