You see in present condition, we create our own reality based upon our internalized preconceptions. Since there is no longer one objective truth, we are free to create our own truth, so you see there is no right and wrong, just an infinite number of equally valid stories. So perception about a person depends on whose story finds space in the media.
Media hates Mayawati but never concedes so. Because sometimes we do things involuntarily which are ingrained in our mind due to preconceived notions. Otherwise how could you justify ridiculing of a party by media on reports of sacking a minister for his wrongdoings without being forced by the media? Or building a world class park which will help in increasing tourism in the state? Any action of Mayawati is seen with eye of suspicion. And only time it praises her is to see itself as neutral is on the issue of managing caste alliances. Projecting as if everything is wrong with her except her hold on caste mathematics. This reminds me of scene from Sholay where Amitabh Bachan goes to mausi for marriage proposal of Dharmendra with Hema malini. Media also praises her in a similar fashion just to fulfill its duty half heartedly showcasing only one side of the story.
As a result you set wrong precedent for other parties that if you will act against criminal elements belonging to your party then your party will also see a defeat. Past experience teach parties to shy away from taking actions against “Bahubalis” or criminal elements. It is responsibility of media that if a government takes positive step towards cleaning the political landscape, it should have been appreciated. Is there a single party in India who dares to throw its ministers out of the party if minister fails to act responsibly without being forced by media? So when media is called fourth pillar of democracy it does not mean that its only responsibility is to catch the corrupt leaders but also to appreciate the good work done by a leader.
Question is not of capability but the intention of media. Any responsible journalist will look twice at the reliability of source of information before tarnishing image of a person through media. But when you take case of “Wikileaks revelation on Mayawati sending plane to fetch her sandals”, all journalist jumped to the story as if they were waiting something like this to happen and keeping aside every rule of responsible journalism, they published the incident as a scam but the truth which every journalist knew was that report send by British embassy was based on opinion of a journalist in UP without any evidence. For Mayawati damage had been done, whatever she will try to explain would go in vain as a foreign brand of Wikileaks gave credibility to the story made up by a journalist.
In an another incident, an IPS officer Devendra Dutt Mishra vent his anger against Mayawati for whatever reasons and claims high level of corruption by his senior officers. By looking at the video footage of his media address, any sensible person will tell you that he was giving incoherent and haywire statements such as to quote “Mere Senior officers ne bhi paisa khaya he, aapko yakeen na ata ho to puch lo abhi abhi mithai kha ke gaye hain se”. Even journalist knew the truth that he doesn’t sound mentally stable but treats his testimony as valid argument in broadcasting high level of corruption in UP government.
This small-small negative publicity creates a wrong perception in minds of the masses. You will ask any random person on the road and he will associate Mayawati with corruption. And then media will proclaim that it is unbiased and broadcasts information on the basis of available information. Stand of any person depends on his caste, education and environment he/she is raised into. And journalist are no different people and comes from same society. So when there is no participation of dalits on editorial posts in the popular media how can one expect them to provide masses the other side of the story. Dalit leaders have been projected as demons throughout the history and sadly story continues. Media should stop this witch hunting by projecting dalit leaders as demons.
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