The role of media, especially the electronic media, was questioned in the Lok Sabha during an impromptu discussion on the assault on Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar after Speaker Meira Kumar strongly condemned the incident.
The members also disapproved of Mr Anna Hazare’s comment “sirf ek thappad (only one slap)”.
Members from the Janata Dal (U), Samajwadi Party, BSP, Shiv Sena, CPI and even an Independent strongly objected to the attempts to ridicule politicians, parliamentary institutions and sensationalising news stories.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav wondered why television channels showed the slap on Mr Pawar for 24 hours on a day the country took the major decision about the FDI: “Ek thappad se pachas thappad banaye gaye, pachas thappad banakar baat chalayi gayi.” Mr Yadav asked why the government was silent on the attempts to vitiate the atmosphere and humiliate people’s representatives.
Viewing that democratic institutions should work in its limits, he cautioned that the society will not remain intact the day politicians are separated from it.
Among those who criticised the media were Mr Dhananjay Singh (BSP), Mr T.K.S. Elangovan (DMK), Mr Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Putul Kumari (Independent), with some of them saying that channels were glorifying the wrong things for increasing their TRP (television rating points).
Mr Dasgupta said: “I put on record one thing. Mr. Anna Hazare did a very wrong thing. I do not know what is happening. And secondly, I do not appreciate the electronic media, constantly showing the picture as to how he has been slapped. Is it the way? Media is sensationalising a barbaric incident. Is it the way? The press must have a lesson. In a democracy, in a decent society, in a civilised society, let us not over-publicise an incident, which is to be condemnable.”
Mr Elangovan said: “I fully agree with Sharad Yadavji that the role of media is very important in such things. I only request the media not to project this pseudo heroism.”