Page 103 - Conflict, Terrorism, and the Media In Asia

92 Prasun Sonwalkar
had defamed the Hindu community with one-sided coverage: ‘They only listen to
Muslims and ignore the Hindus’, the team was told (Patel et al. 2002). Sardesai
pointed out the predicament faced by journalists while covering the events:
(If) any reporter, whether print or television, sees large-scale violence being
committed, is the journalist to ignore the hard reality and merely present the
facts as seen through government binoculars? If the chief minister says that
the situation is returning to normal even while reports are streaming in of
continuing violence in several parts of the state, are not the lies to be
exposed? And if the government insists that the army is out on the street
when the fact is that the army has been kept on stand-by and is waiting for
transport trucks, whose version is to be broadcast?
(Sardesai 2002a)
In India, the state has been the biggest source of news and journalists routinely use
information disseminated by officials. But, as Sardesai pointed out, the situation
becomes unclear for journalists when the government itself – with its vast powers –
is openly seen to be on the side of the mob. The government used its formidable pow-
ers to discipline the critical news media by a variety of methods: outright banning of
news channels or publications; withholding access to information and advertise-
ments; and severe criticism. Dominant political forces may also distribute largesse
and heap praise on journalists and news outlets perceived to be favourable to their
interests. Gujarat Chief Minister Modi applauded Sandesh, the Gujarati-language
newspaper that had published several rumours and false reports with a pronounced
anti-Muslim and pro-Hindutva bias. In a letter to the newspaper’s editor, Modi wrote:

The newspapers of the state played a decisive role as a link between the
people and the government. You have served the humanity in a big way...It
is the state government’s primary duty to restore peace, security and com-
munal harmony when violence takes place...The timely measures taken by
the government turned out to be effective and normalcy was returned within
a short period. It is noteworthy that the newspapers of Gujarat gave their full
support to the state government in undertaking this difficult task. I am happy
to note that your newspaper exercised restraint during the communal
disturbances in the wake of the Godhra incident. I am grateful to you.
(cited in Varadarajan 2002b: 286)
Modi, who once took a course in New York on media management, is considered
one of the most media-savvy politicians in India. However, he turned selective in
providing access and information to journalists and refused to interact with jour-
nalists from the English-language press. The accreditation of local journalists
critical of his politics was not renewed, and he made it difficult for journalists to
access centres of information such as the legislative assembly. He refused to meet
the press and also instructed his ministers not to meet journalists, unless he per-
mitted them to do so. Several local newspapers faced reduced advertising support
from the government while some had court cases slapped against them. A senior
Gujarat police official told an Ahmedabad-based journalist of the Indian