Under pressure in Goa, journalists find themselves hit by a cleansing truth
>From Frederick Noronha PANAJI (Goa), Oct 4: Should journalists play politics? Does the media need to turn the criticism onto itself too? Is the iron fist of censorship or the velvet glove of behind-the-scenes manipulation actually more dangerous when it comes to blocking the Fourth Estate from having its say? These issues came up during a well-attended morning's meeting, held Friday, in the state-capital of Panaji, among journalists from India's smallest state who are concerned by the growing pressures on the Press here and feel a need, among some media-persons, to clean up their own act. Sitaram Tengse, editor of the Marathi daily 'Rashtramat' published from Margao, explained why he felt the need for journalists to keep their distance from the Establishment and voice the commonperson's interest. Incidentally, the Rashtramat has recently launched a widely-debated column, which holds up the media itself to scrutiny. Not all in the Fourth Estate are happy with this column though. Tengse said the chief minister had sent him a notice, seeking a front-page apology for what was written in his media column, or else warned him of a Rs 50 million defamation suite. Speaking at a T.B.Cunha Hall fairly full mostly with journalists, Tengse argued that just as the BJP's credibility at the all-India level had been largely due to its association with Jayaprakash Narayan, in Goa its credibility came in significant part from its alliance with the local regional Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). He surprised some by publicly stating that he was "one of those" responsible for building the alliance between the MGP and BJP, in the nineties. He added: "But now I feel very sorry for that I have done. The alliance talks caused confusion in the rank and file of the MGP, and destroyed it. So I feel bad." Referring to the Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar's recent clash with the Press -- where BJP's Goa strong-man and local party pivot Parrikar sent pre-emptive defamation warnings to four major newspapers, warning them against publishing Opposition leaders' statements alleging nepotism against him -- Tengse said: "We can't call him (Parrikar) a democrat, at least now." He explained his role in the earlier MGP-BJP alliance, saying: "My commitment is only to the society at large, for the good of Goans. Congress was degenerating to such an extent, and there was no other alternative here (at that time)." But later, other younger journos challenged this position, asking whether it was the job of scribes match-make among parties. Another question thrown up was if such work was being undertaken, should it not be made public, so that a 'disclosure of interest' could be made up-front? "Otherwise, readers of an editorial wouldn't have a clue of this double-role," argued journalist Ashley Rosario. Tengse strongly advocated journalists keep away from politicians in power. "We can't be on both sides. We can't take a stand that if we get a (legal) notice (served on us) we will protest, but otherwise we'll be friendly (with ruling politicians)," he said. Tengse stressed he had nothing personal against the chief minister though. STAYING FAR: Tengse advocated a policy of 'staying far' from a party once it came to power. "Once in power, they don't need us. So why should we give them our support," he argued. The Rashtramat editor reminded younger journos that people believed newspapers far more than they did any section of the government's powerful machinery. Indian Express Goa correspondent Raju Nayak said that politicians like the controversial Churchill Alemao and chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who's favoured status among the Press now seems to be facing a reversal, were both to large extent a "creation of favourable" media reporting and hype. POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: Herald editor Rajan Narayan, in the news for publicly taking on his management after alleging political interference against his action initiated to block his wife's column in the newspaper without intimating him as editor, narrated his experiences with censorship during the 1975-77 Emergency days in Mumbai. Narayan, who has announced plans to launch his own weekly and is also taking the lead in the campaign against the chief minister's pre-emptive blanket defamation threats, said: "At various stages and at all times, Manohar Parrikar has tried to put pressure on the Herald." He criticised managements for seeking business favours from politicians, and made specific allegations about wanting contracts. He said politicians also put pressure on newspaper owners by asking 'why is that man of yours writing so vehemently against us?' Self-depreciatingly labelling his writings as 'idiot-orials', Narayan said the chief minister seemed keen to read "every word, and every line" even before the newspaper reached most parts of the state. He narrated instances of what he charged were Parrikar's attempts to clarify repeatedly, whether it was over who deserved credit for INDIA TODAY's rating of Goa as a high-performing state, or charges that the CM's politically-aligned educationists had cornered mathematics educational CDs offered by Hindustan Lever. Narayan said the chief minister claimed he was "willing to show every file", but kept silent about serious problems -- like the hepatitis outbreak in Panaji -- till after the Press reported on it. "I'm a veteran of defamation cases. In my 20 years at the Herald, I've got more than 200 defamation cases," he said, in another context. Earlier, he prefaced his talk saying: "I'm quite aware, some of you (journalists) feel I'm as much a megalomaniac as Manohar Parrikar, and some of you have bones to pick with me." EDC LOANS: Narayan went to question the role of the EDC in granting loans and offering equity to the son of a former Congress chief minister, which were then treated with utmost leniency, he alleged. He also cited the case of former Congress minister and now BJP aide, Suresh Parulekar. Narayan faced some angry charges about himself blocking reports as editor of the Herald. Journalists were more united in agreeing that the chief minister had overplayed his hand, with a blanket defamation threat to four of the state's most influential newspapers, if they reported the Opposition charges on political mismanagement and nepotism of the state's premier financial body, the EDC. Some questions were raised to sharpen the level of understanding of defamation laws. But some voiced disappointed that the editors who had been served the notice were non-committal, didn't turn up for the meeting, or had promised to come and went back on their word. Goa Union of Journalists, the trade union and professional body of the scribes, should take a suo moto stand, without waiting for formalities in the case, it was suggested. One suggestion was to print "10,000 copies" of the chief minister's defamation notice -- which he said was issued in his personal capacity -- and distribute it across the state, to make clear how ludicrous it was. Legal remedies in court and boycotts were also mentioned. Said Ashely Rosario: "The issue of freedom of the press, and political interference, is an ongoing one. It was there in the past too (under other chief ministers). It happens in the open (as in this case). But it also happens behind the scenes, on phones and in five star hotels. It's the latter kind which is more dangerous, because you simply don't get a chance to know what's hitting you." He cautioned against allowing the journalists' platform to get "hijacked" by any set of politicians. Various options were discussed, on how journalists could get back. By the end of the meeting, one of the citizens pointed out privately that freedom of the press should not be restricted to journalists, editors and newspaper owners themselves, but is to be extended to, and exercised on behalf, of society as a whole. (ENDS) ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
