SURGICAL STRIKE REQUIRED AT SOURCE
The government is going after Whatsap, Facebook and Media for hate speeches,
inciting violence or hostile fake news etc. The Supreme Court made it clear
that though electronic media seems to be going berserk, self regulation not
working and government has to be kept out of controlling media, they proposed
to set up an independent body with enough teeth to regulate excesses. However
the government reportedly appears to be blocking this move by wanting the court
to let it first control digital media because they state as example the reason
for migrant labor exodus was due to spread of lockdown false information. This
was discussed on several media channels as factually untrue. Parliament has
shockingly confirmed that there are no records of any details of labor
migration, lossof jobs and resultant deaths! Consider what is the main source
of influencing polls, hate speeches, cover up and the like? Who has armies of
IT cells/ dedicated TV channels manned by professionals, spreading propaganda
and counter propaganda so people are diverted from the real issues, facts
distorted or emotions aroused on nationalism or religious or caste/reservation
and other issues? As I write this, a journalist in UP has been violently
roughed up. Why is the source not an issue and attacked first, but wanting to
censor/restrict free communication, the only avenue for people to practice
democracy and demand transparency and accountability? The Election Commission
and all political parties themselves (charity begins at home) backed by the SC
in public interest and Voters have to insist and put pressure for
accountability, consequences and punishment for perpetrating individuals, be
you so high or low! Otherwise Delhi riots type debatable investigation,
vigilantism and strongarm tactics will continue where fear will reign instead
of justice, truth, law and order, love and compassion.
