By Dr Pragya Sharma,
After the most welcome ceasefire announcement, one question kept resonating in my mind. I was baffled to see the role of Indian mainstream media during this emergency like situation. Their primary purpose is to provide information and keep the masses aware, but they proved to be TRP hungry corporate houses who would do anything to sell. My head hangs in shame looking at the buffonery they created with special effects showing war missiles, an anchor sitting inside a fake helicopter and what not. Their only excuse can be that even Pakistani media was similarly making false claims but that country has a reputation of making a fool of itself on international platform, biggest example being their defence minister recently who claimed social media to be a source of information.
These media houses have to understand that there are kids watching, what will they learn ? That war is just like another IPL match or Metgala. There are susceptible innocent people watching because of which we saw mass exodus of migrant labourers from bordering states. There are people suffering from heart disease and anxiety watching this hypersensational garbage they are serving which can be detrimental to their mental and physical health.
As a member of IDPD (Indian Doctors for Peace and Development), we feel that war is a sombre situation where innocent young lives are lost, whether in the defence forces or collateral civilian casualties. It is not a certain celebration which it was made out to be. These media houses serve what sells so somewhere the responsibility lies with us too. Why are we celebrating any form of violence in a country which preaches Ahimsa. Two nuclear powers colliding is not some kind of joke that we failed to understand. Nationalism is good but nonsensical violent fear mongering is not. If one is truly patriotic, they may come forward as volunteers, offer for blood donation and if not anything then stay a responsible citizen who are worth protecting by the sacrifice of these young innocent soldiers and such expensive defence infrastructure.
Is accountability a thing limited to only doctors and government officials now? Who is going to hold these educated practicing journalists responsible for what they did. We have already witnessed the outcome of irresponsible journalism during 26/11 when security and hostage details were given away by a very senior journalist. It is my appeal to concerned authorities that some strict guidelines be issued to media and information agencies regarding circulating and propagating unverified and uncensored news. We have a problem if plenty and most of these channels are repetitive, polarised and overall irresponsible in their broadcast. Let us ask important questions like how can such security lapses be avoided in the future, why was such a huge loan sanctioned to a terrorist nation from IMF and when will terrorism and wars actually end. (IPA Service)
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