The Media’s Role
The media should verify whether proper preventive and corrective action is taken writes PRABHAKAR KULKARNI
Readers and viewers of the print and electronic
media are always eager to know about
events that have social, economic and political
connotations. Whether attempts are made
by the media to respond to these expectations is
a vital issue that needs periodical scrutiny. What
are the reactions of the regulatory authorities in
the government after the significance is revealed?
The media should then verify whether proper action
both, preventive and corrective is taken.
This expectation is duly responded to by an electronic
media as disclosed in a follow-up discussion
held by the CNN-IBN -Lokmat on the Maharashtra
government’s near blunder in selecting Khairlanji
village as being eligible to receive the prestigious
‘Tanta Mukti Gram Puraskar’ (Dispute-free village
Award).
Khairlanji village of Bhandara district in the
Vidarbha region in Maharashtra, came into the
limelight when six members of a Dalit family
were brutally murdered by about 50 villagers.
The only survivor of that family with other Dalit
organizations and social activists are struggling
to get the accused sentenced to capital punishment.
If this village has been a target for its anti-
Dalit stance, how can it be selected by the
Maharashtra government for the prestigious
award? This question was first raised by NCP MLA
Ram Pandagale who sought an inquiry into the
cruel blunder and take action against those responsible
for this blunder.
While no one in the print media has followed
up the issue in depth, the electronic channel
CNN-IBN-Lokmat invited the MLA Pandagale and
others persons to discuss the issue in its question-
hour.. The activists have demanded stern action
against the members of the selection
committee, including the Guardian Minister, the
District Collector and the District Superintendent
Of Police. The trio are alleged to have selected
this village despite the sad incident. Pandagale
has demanded action against the guardian minister
irrespective of his political party and the two officers
who should be prosecuted under the Atrocities
Act.
Cricket and the IPL scam controversy
While most of the Marathi and English newspapers
have covered the hot controversy of the
IPL and the Lalit Modi phenomenon, the CNNIBN-
Lokmat channel has taken up the issue in its
question-hour and carried out elaborate discussion
on the subject. As the income tax authorities
have been investigating tax evasion and other financial
deals in the alleged scam, the channel
editor Nikhil Wagle invited retired income tax
commissioner Gupta for the discussion. Mr. Gupta
has categorically alleged that black money might
be involved in the IPL and the scam which has
now come to light though the inquiry was secretly
being done by the IT department for the past
nine months. He disclosed that there certainly
was tax evasion and attempt to turn black money
into white as alleged by the opposition leader
Gopinath Munde. When Wagle questioned about
the possible involvement of Pawar-Patel in the
IPL, senior journalist Hemant Desai referred to
involvement of Purna Patel daughter of Union
minister Prafulla Patel which indirectly indicates
Patel’s interests in the IPL. Wagle then asked
about how Purna was employed in the IPL and if
she was appointed on her own merit or by any
other organization or influence? These questions
it seems clearly indicate Patel’s secret involvement
in the IPL and indirectly that of Sharad
Pawar who once supported Lalit Modi, but is
silent now with declaration that the governing
body will unanimously take decision about lalit
Modi and allegations against him? .
The other invitees to the discussion panel
Bharatkumar Raut, Shivsena MP and editorial consultant
of the Times Group has expressed utter
discontent against the involvement of black money
as alleged by the retired income tax commissioner
Gupta during the discussion. He expressed severe
doubts about the very future of this country if
such malpractices were occurring in the name
of game and involvement of the powers that be
in both the corporate and political fields.
If Lalit Modi’s dealings are suspect, as is alleged,
and if these things are going on for the
last several months why was it not exposed earlier
and now only when the Shashi Tharoor phenomenon
came on the surface asks Mr. Raut who also
alleged that Sharad Pawar is involved though behind
the curtain. He alleged that the BCCI is a
centre of corruption and it should also be thoroughly
scrutinised and investigated, which should
have been carried out earlier when open betting
was going on on-line and the big and the powerful
were openly disclosing their monetary stakes in
crores. Ganesh Aayyar cost accountant of the
cricket organisations was also invited, but he
tried to defend both the IPCL and BCCI with the
statement that since the investigation is in
progress, there is no need to attempt to nail
anybody or throw aspersions against individuals
until the investigations and legal process is over.
Wagle commented that it was now clear that
Ayyar is defending Modi and others involved in
the scam and did not ask him any more questions.
Wagle then pointed out that the public poll
showed that 97 percent of votes indicated that
IPL is the greatest scam in the sport world.
Pawar has been blamed for Lalit Modi’s rise.
Daily Lokmat, owned by Congress MP Vijay Darda
has analyzed the IPL controversy in its editorial ‘
Indian Pawar League” (instead of Indian Premier
League –IPL) and has alleged that Modi-Shanshank
Manohar and Pawar were involved in mutual interests
and when Manohar (BBCI Chief ) told
Pawar about Modi’s monetary transactions, he
withdrew his support to Modi. However in the
whole IPL episode and the exposure of the details
after the investigation, Pawar may lose his political
clout as has been predicted by a section of the
English media. Another vital point raised in the
aforementioned editorial is that there was a secret
understanding between the members of the IPL
members, that names of those who have invested
their money in the matches, should not be disclosed.
This fact has been disclosed by the BBCI
chief Shashank Monohar when Modi threatened
to disclose names of those involved in the deal.
If such assurance secrecy is given to those investing
huge amounts, is obviously a grave offence.
Belgaum-based Tarun Bharat has revealed in
an editorial that Prafulla Patel is trapped due to
the email leaked by his daughter Purna and sent
to Tharoor through his official channel. Although
not Pawar, his daughter Supriya Sule, despite her
denial of any involvement in the IPL, is found to
have 10 percent share through her husband
Sadanand Sule who has these shares in Multi-
Screen Media to whom IPL had assigned transmission
rights. Due to Sule and Patel the
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) seems to be involved
much to the embarrassment of the party
workers, comments the editorial.
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Feel The Rain
By Auriel Ribeiro Sa
It’s the season of the Green Carpet event once again; of life
springing up from Dormant Earth. As the rains wash away the
dirt and grime of a dusty summer, Nature gets a fresh makeover.
The forest comes alive with the vibrant colors of wildflowers and
the exuberant peacock shakes out his resplendent plumage as if
to say “Come dance with me” In a dazzling display of dashing
moves, he pays homage to the collecting clouds in the sky. Frogs
in the pond lend their resonant voices to the orchestra of thunder
and lightning in the firmament.
Have you ever danced in the rain? I used to wait eagerly every
June for the first rains to come so I could run outside and get thoroughly
drenched in the pouring shower. The smell of the mud
drove us mad as my friends and I sang and laughed, abandoning
all inhibitions to the wind that swept around us. The cooling
waters cleansed our spirits and revived our souls. It was a truly
awesome experience. Just close your eyes and let every drop of
rain reach your heart.”
The farmer longs for rain; no sooner has he ploughed the field
then he prays for it. A year of drought spells doom for the farmer
who survives on rain to water his crops to abundant life. Rains are
indeed the lifeline of farmers and their families in such places. A
year of drought could bring a flood of suicides for the debt-ridden’
men of the soil’.
Rains are vital not only for farmers and the growth of their
crops, but also for all of us. Many a times, we grumble when we
see an ominous black cloud, dreading the impending monsoons
because of the inconveniences it brings. Slush, drenched clothing,
waterlogged gutters, floods, cyclones; these are the other side of
the coin. But if we take proper precautions to prevent them, the
monsoons can be a joyous season for us all.
As a school-going child once recited, “’Tis fun to splish-splash
in puddles And then get Mom’s scolds and cuddles”. Parents are
careful to see that their children don’t get wet in the rains for fear
that they might fall sick. So they protect them with raincoats and
umbrellas. Aren’t most people always cautious about stepping out
when it’s pouring cats and dogs or taking shelter when caught in
a sudden unexpected downpour? So little wonder then that they
have never savoured a rain shower or revelled in a rain dance. If
you are feeling sad, upset or even angry, JUST DO IT once! Go
stand in front of a shower hose, just close your eyes and let the
water flow onto you. What you feel then is exactly what you will
feel when you dance in the rain.
Numerous songs have been composed to give expression to the
feeling of joy when the monsoons come; Raag Malhar is a ‘classical’
example. Poetry and essays have also been written, but my favourite
was the ‘Rainy Season’ drawing we did every June when school
began. Then there were some cute nursery rhymes we used to
recite with gusto like ‘Oh! Where do you come from You little
drops of rain?’ and riddles like ‘What goes up when the rain comes
down?’ In college too, we had a special cultural event called
MALHAR during the monsoons which was a hair-hanging-down
time of fun n-frolic that all of us looked forward to and thoroughly
enjoyed.
So grab the opportunity this monsoons. Feel the rain on your
skin, revel in its feather-light caresses on your soul and experience
God’s Love in the life-giving waters that spring from His heart to
yours!
