Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency and 'press ban'; Rahul and I.N.D.I.A opposition group announce boycott of 14 TV anchors

 Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency and press ban included in that. All these for a plethora of reasons. 

Critics of politics in general sense often complain that the ‘politics’ encourages and promotes the art of ‘self-interest’. 

But one irony about politics is that it often comes back to haunt the political class. This is the Congress predicament. The Emergency debate may not help BJP in getting some additional votes, or it does.

But this boycott of TV anchors will certainly not help the Opposition. One wonders how communist and socialist leaders in the alliance are okay with such a move. This is another case of stealing 'defeat' from the joys of moral victory !

The answer lies in the media-state governments relation in many states. There are several opposition

Chief Ministers who are not used to be questioned with uncomfortable queries. 

No need to name them at this juncture.

Senior journalists often said Indira Gandhi started believing “everyone was whispering and conspiring” against her. Late Arun Jaitley, who had friendship with many journalists of Emergency era, also agreed that essentially the 'suspicion' of conspiracy angle had brought in the Emergency and the gag order on the media. And critics politicians and journalists like Kuldip Nayar were jailed. 

Now many years later, the hands of clock have moved on. The opposition parties now under Congress have announced boycott of as many as 14 TV anchors. Their faultline these anchors could be asking embarrassing questions. In other words, the Opposition alliance want TV anchors of their choice - 'yes madam, yes sir' club !! 

The probable suspicion is those TV anchors and rest 'critics' of Congress party and other outfits in the I.N.D.I.A combine are also 'conspiring' against the opposition to bring back Narendra Modi in 2024. 

Ting Tong !!

It is said, suddenly due to her arrogance and suspicion; Indira Gandhi could not communicate with people. And so at later stage efforts were made to justify emergency and shun any kind of criticism. Sadly, after championing the cause of press freedom repeatedly (either lip service or so), the Congress and other opposition parties have decided to boycott the anchors.  

Perhaps they are also unable to communicate. Engaging with unfriendly TV anchors and journalists is the real challenge for any spokesperson - and it is more so for political parties in a democracy.

Malini Parthasarathy, former Editor 'The Hindu' wrote on X : "Am truly surprised that the @INCIndia  top leadership endorsed such a crude decision to target and brand as hostile, journalists who are doing their jobs. Not a good augury for @INCIndia’s commitment to freedom of opinion and expression. 

The right thing to do would be to engage with these people seen as adversarial & explain the party viewpoint." 

There are many ways to look at this controversy.  

An error of the past often actually becomes a legacy; and the Congress party seems to have forgotten the episode of 1975. 

This is the dilemma the Congress leaders are confronted with today after they have been accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP – in the last nine years - of pursuing sectarian and communal politics – often 'crushing' the democratic principles of the world’s largest democracy.

On the other hand, Modi is given to his image of a ‘decisive’ leader and a tough task master. Thus in more ways than one – his government in last nine years has been called “authoritarian and even anti-minorities”.

But on the eve of Emergency day, that is June, 2018; the BJP leaders in contrast took to social networking sites, addressing press conferences and writing blogs in last few days lambasting the alleged “dictatorial traits” of the Congress party, ironically that fought for India’s freedom under peace apostle Mahatma Gandhi.  

The principal reason obviously was in 1975 the Congress leader Indira Gandhi (grand mother of new/old Congress face Rahul Gandhi) had clamped Emergency in the country suspending fundamental rights of citizens and restricted the powers of Indian Parliament, media and the courts. 

The 21 month Emergency or authoritarian rule was imposed in the country from June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977. The move had authorized Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to rule by decree and had allowed elections to be suspended and civil liberties including press freedom to be curbed. 

In his blog posted on Facebook (June 2018), Late Arun Jaitley, then Finance Minister under Modi, referred to the episode wherein three senior judges of the Supreme Court Justice Shelat, Justice Grover and Justice Hegde were "superseded" and Justice A.N. Ray was appointed Chief Justice of India. 

"The court was now packed with Government preferred judges. A dangerous thesis was propagated by  Law Minister H.R. Gokhale that judiciary must follow the social philosophy of the Government and judges must be appointed on the basis of their social philosophy," Jaitley wrote. 

Please note, he also compared Indira Gandhi with German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Paradoxically, during the period 2014 and 2018 (and also till 2023), Congress and other opposition parties have stated that the Modi’s regime used to often behave/function like that of Hitler – especially for its anti-Muslim and anti-Christian slants and controversies like ban.

Even denying 'media access' during Joe Biden-Narendra Modi bilateral meet recently was made an issue by Congress general in-charge communication Jairam Ramesh. And now this boycott call.

But the move of opposition parties alliance 'I.N.D.I.A' has given an edge to the BJP now and turned the table. 

"These are the sanctimonious spokespersons of  @INCIndia who lament endlessly about the lack of press freedom and lecture us on rising intolerance! How is this ugly boycott declaration of specific journalists & that too, popular television anchors justified by these worthies?," remarked Ms Parthasarathy. 

More media persons have gone on social media. 

"....listing and then officially “boycotting” anchors should not be a device for lovers of liberal democracy, wrote Sagarika Ghose. 

Meghna Sharma of  News X wrote:

"Is I.N.D.I.A. alliance so fearful of some journalists and anchors that it has decided to boycott them? Media criticism should not be the reason for political parties to run for cover."

One BJP youth leader Vikram Goud wrote:

"Right now, @RahulGandhi might be shedding tears for press freedom somewhere in the world. Meanwhile, in India, they've decided to boycott news channels, anchors, and TV debates. A round of applause, please, for their masterclass in hypocrisy!"

ends