IE manufactures nonexistent Sangh ‘divisions’ on the issue of endosulfan

IE in its article Sangh Parivar stands divided on ‘swadeshi’ endosulfan reports

contrary to the party’s official view that it should be banned — the Swadeshi Jagran Manch has now opposed the countrywide ban on endosulfan.

IE also reports that Swadeshi Jagran Manch wrote that

“In the past, it was observed that lot of foreign funds were being used for imposing ban on manufacturing and use of endosulfan, where the motives are different and against the interests of the Indian farmers,”

Media Watch checked with Sri Gurumurthy co-convenor of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and we were informed that SJM is of the view that Endosulfan should be banned. Following is the letter which was written to PM

IE also quotes recommendation of a committee appointed by Gujarat Government. Media Watch fails to understand how can recommendation of a committee be taken as difference of views within Sangh Parivar? Is IE saying that BJP government should have influenced the committee to give a report which rhymes with BJP’s views?

Indian Express plays with headlines quotes Modi govt raped women!

This entry to Media Hall of Shame is shameful play with headlines by IE.

The main news on IE Webpage reads (see screenshots)

'Modi govt grabbed tribals' land in Narmada, raped women'

Any casual reader would be interpret headline as ‘Modi Govt raped women’

However, once you click on the link, the headline reads (see screenshots)

Modi govt committing excesses on tribals, alleges Medha

Which is totally different from the headlines in first page of IE Website.

The Mischief becomes more glaring when  you read thru what Medha had actually said about rape of tribals. She said

"Some displaced tribal women of SSP had been raped but there was no place where they can get their complaint registered in Gujarat,"

It is very clear that unlike what IE wants its readers to believe, she is not blaming Modi Government of rape. She is just stating a fact that some of displaced women were raped and there were no proper redressal mechanism.

Media Watch effect - What is IE trying to convey?

This is further to Media Watch report What is IE trying to convey?

Now IE has changed the accompanying picture. We would like to believe it was a Media Watch effect

Amusingly even now IE has posted a different picture. This picture is not from said Press conference where he was wearing a shirt(watch the video in last post)

 

What is IE trying to convey?

Ongoing media reports on Sushma Swarajs tweets is a common knowledge.

Indian Express also reported about it in their article Gadkari snubs Sushma: CVC issue alive, will go to people(screenshot below). Media Watch will not go into content of this news but what caught our attention is the accompanying picture. The news was accompanied by a picture of Sushma Swaraj who visibly looked upset sad and eyes filled with tears. The picture accompanied with a caption “Sushma Swaraj at the press conference in New Delhi where Gadkari spoke on Wednesday. PREM NATH PANDEY”. Since the subject dealt with “snub” from party president one cant be faulted for assuming “the sad state” of Sushma in picture is due to snub.

But a deeper investigation reveals that picture does not seem to be from said press conference. In fact from the video available from NDTV report BJP's CVC divide out in the open reveals that Sushma was not even present in that Press Meet!

• Check the difference in background
• Note Sushma not present on table

Video of said conf call

 

Media Watch writes to IE Editor

 

Dear Editor of Indian Express,

We are a group working towards educating and mobilizing citizens of India to influence media  to see their responsibility in communicating news truthfully and responsibly.

We would like to draw your attention to todays news report "Gadkari snubs Sushma: CVC issue alive, will go to people"  published in IE website. The news was accompanied by a picture of Sushma Swaraj who visibly looked upset, sad and eyes filled with tears. The picture accompanied with a caption “Sushma Swaraj at the press conference in New Delhi where Gadkari spoke on Wednesday. PREM NATH PANDEY”. Since the subject dealt with “snub” from party president one cant be faulted for assuming “the sad state” of Sushma in picture is due to snub.

But the picture does not seem to be from said press conference. In fact from the video available from NDTV & Youtube reveals that Sushma was not even present in that Press Meet!

You can see the video and other detailed information from our blog Media Critic report on Gadkari snubs Sushma: CVC issue alive, will go to people

We request your clarification on this issue.

Thanks

Media Watch Blog Team

Media Watch

Media says Minority students suffering in state as Modi not using Centres funds

This is pertaining to various media reports which covers in detail how Narendra Modi is not using Minority (read Muslim) Student funds in Gujarat and as a result of which minority students are suffering

NDTV in melodramatic report Crores set aside for Gujarat's minority students go unused writes

But Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi refuses to use the money. "The scheme is to bring equity, as per the recommendation of the Sachar Commission," says Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal. "But as far as the Gujarat Chief Minister is concerned, we all know his attitude towards minorities."

As politics gets prioritised, thousands of students like Tahir are robbed of opportunities that could change their lives.

Indian Express in its report Khurshid: Modi denying minority students funds quotes Salman Khurshid

“I am not happy with the social situation (in Gujarat). I’ll be happy when the courts will be happy. The situation does not facilitate a neutral hearing of someone’s complaint.”

IBN in its Exclusive report Exclusive: Modi deprives poor Muslims of scholarship writes

More than 50,000 poor minority students in Gujarat have been reportedly denied central scholarship.

This report has once again put Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in a spot.

His is the only state government in the country which is not willing to bear 25 per cent share of the central-sponsored pre matric scholarship scheme for the minorities.

This year again, despite of repeated reminders, the state government has not earmarked any money which means the minority students will remain deprived of their due.

IBN also quotes Congress spokesperson, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

“This is unconstitutional,”

If you were to believe the media there seems to be some sinister conspiracy in gujarat led by Modi to keep Muslims uneducated by denying them scholarships inspite the best efforts of the Congress Government.

Media Watch is surprised that none of the Media included following statistics along with their report

• literacy rate among Muslims in Gujarat has increased by 10 per cent in the last decade and at 73 per cent.
• literacy rate among Muslims in Gujarat is higher than the state's average of 69.1 per cent and the all-India Muslim literacy rate of 59 percent
• Literacy rate among Muslim women in Gujarat is 5% more compared to national literacy average in urban areas.
• In Gujarat, 45.3% Muslim children receive secondary education as against the national average of 40.5%
• Against the plan of the Government of India to provide scholarship to 52,260 minority students under the pre-matric scheme, Gujarat has made available scholarship to the tune of R 227 lakh to 2,25,000 Muslim students during 2010-11 and paid assistance worth R 535 lakh for school uniform to 3,57,000 Muslim students studying in Std 1-7
• the per-capita income of Muslims in the state, she said in urban areas of Gujarat, it was R 875, compared to the national average of R 804. The figure was R 662 in Uttar Pradesh, R 748 in West Bengal, R 811 in Punjab, R 803 in Andhra Pradesh and R 837 in Karnataka
• Per capita income among Muslims community in rural areas in Gujarat is R 668, compared to the national average of R 553

With the above statistics it takes lot of imagination to claim that Muslims in Gujarat is suffering!

Only TOI took the effort to get view of Gujarat government on this issue.  A senior state bureaucrat, requesting anonymity, said

The thinking is, the scholarship creates discrimination among non-minority groups, hence it cannot be allowed here".

If you believe IE, Arjun Singh made last wish a fortnight before he died.

Arjun Singh is no more. According to IE report Arjun’s last wish was to meet Sonia, she obliged.

On his death bed, veteran Congress leader Arjun Singh, who had always worn his loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family on his sleeves, only wished to meet Sonia Gandhi. Informed about his desire, the Congress chief called on him at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) but what transpired at their meeting remains a secret.

So if one were to believe IE, Arjun Singh was so loyal to Nehru-Gandhi Family that even in his death bed his last wish was to see Sonia which she gladly obliged

But, a finer reading of next few para lets the cat out.

About a fortnight back, Singh had sent a message to senior Congress leader Anil Shastri, asking him to see him in the hospital. Shastri told The Sunday Express that Singh looked “disheartened” as he held his arm and said how most of his political associates had not even visited him in the hospital. “I only wish to meet Sonia Gandhi,” Singh told him.

So it was not on his death bed he wished to see Sonia but it was a fortnight before his death he indicated his wish to see Sonia.! Not sure how IE thinks this was his “last wish on death bed” unless he knew 15 days before that he is going to die

And then what does Sonia do

Shastri informed Sonia’s office about the ailing leader’s wish. She was said to have immediately shot off a letter to Singh in the hospital, wishing him speedy recovery. A couple of days later, she visited him in the hospital, according to Shastri.

So in reply to Arjun Singhs visit request. Sonia writes a letter back to him. Senior Congress leader Anil Shastri do claim that she visited Arjun Singh at hospital after two days. But strangely, there are no media reports available online which indicated that Sonia Gandhi visited ailing Arjun Singh!  If someone can find a news source please let us know.

Arun Singh died almost immediately after he was dropped from CWC. Is this a premeditated effort to offset any negative public reaction which may link Arjun Singhs death and Sonia Gandhi dropping him from CVC

IE editorial gives good insight on how journalist and media is manipulated

This entry into Media Watch pertains to an excellent editorial by Shekhar Gupta - Constant Congressman it gave us some insight on How Arjun Singh and congress by extension corrupted journalists by doling out free houses etc

Even though the topic was about Arjun Singh and how close he was to Rajiv Gandhi. It gave good insight on how he manipulated journalists, how he “improved living standards of journalists” while he was CM by giving them houses. It also spoke of how he gave houses to five senior most journos in Chandigarh when he was governor of Punjab and how the next day newspaper had news favorable to him!

Some of relevant portion of the editorial on how he “handled” journalist are

Following is how he took care when he was CM of MP

And When he was governor of Punjab

Surprisingly when we tried to access the editorial later it was not available online(not sure if its there in print). This is what we get

It is still available in Google search

But a fellow twitterati  @asraghunath found a copy of epaper which is below

This was brought to attention of IE

Can you please fix the link its not working RT @ietweet Constant Congressman http://goo.gl/jaSyY

IE bluffs on Rahuls Fracture

This entry into Media Watch is pertaining to IE report Rahul fractures leg, advised ‘complete’ rest.

IE reports the cause of fracture as

Rahul’s accident comes after a hectic trip across UP, Maharashtra and the North-East.

Since its hard to believe hectic travel causes fracture, Media Watch decided to do own own little investigation. It seems that Rahuls injured his leg during adventure sports in Kodagu where he was vacationing along with his friends looking like foreign tourist(in ToI language). This is how ToI reported the incident

While participating in adventure sports in Kodagu, Rahul injured his leg and was treated at a private hospital at Ammathi. Rahul was so well-disguised he succeeded in making the doctors mistake him for a foreign tourist

IE also reports

Incidentally, brisk walking has been Rahul’s preferred way of moving around in villages rather than addressing gatherings.

Not sure what IE meant by this statement. But if we go by the report Rahuls seems to understand his weakness and strength very well.

Media hypes up Rahul Gandhi Playing the Good Samaritan,

Before we start this, Media Watch appreciates the Rahul Gandhi going out of way to help an injured person. We wish every Indian follow the example.This in no way is intended to show Rahul Gandhis gesture in bad light. Our only objective is the expose the media hype which is distasteful.

This entry into Media Watch is the hype media created on Rahul Gandhi helping a person involved in an accident.

India Today reports melodramatically  Delhi: Rahul Gandhi saves life of man hit by taxi

Kale Ram, a resident of Khichripur in east Delhi, was seriously injured when a taxi rammed his motorbike.

So if India today is to be believed, Rahul Gandhi saved the life of a person who was seriously injured in an accident.

NDTV as always was at the extreme end in their poetry laced report Rahul Gandhi gets out of car, helps accident victim

Rahul ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath. 

Indian Express while reporting Rahul Gandhi spots accident victim, rushes him to RML changes the religion of the person involved in accident. They changed Kale Ram to Kale Khan. We hope this was an innocent mistake.

The incident was reported around Tuesday afternoon from Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens’ Delhi when a motorcyclist was hit by a taxi. The victim has been identified as Kale Khan, a contractor with the New Delhi Municipal Council. He suffered injuries and was left bleeding on the road

HT in their report Rahul’s good turn ‘shocks’ survivor upgrades Rahul to messiah in white! Which makes one wonder do messiahs have dress code like Thy shall only wear white

When 55-year-old Kale Ram, an NDMC contractor lay injured on the road waiting for help after a taxi hit him on Tuesday, a ‘messiah’ in white walked up to him and saved his life.

Kudos to The Hindu who gave most dispassionate accounts of the incident . According to the report Rahul plays the Good Samaritan

Playing the Good Samaritan, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday helped rush an injured man lying on Krishna Menon Marg here to a hospital in one of his escort vehicles.

Kale Ram lost his balance, fell on the road and sustained shoulder injuries.

Kale Ram dislocated his shoulder in the accident

Only the Media in India will have the audacity to report shoulder dislocation as a life threatening incident and the person help as “messiah in white”. Media Watch is glad Media has found gesture of Rahul Gandhi commendable. Media Watch would like to remind media that they themselves have been found wanting in situations which required them to play good samaritan

IE rehashes old propaganda material from TOI & Midday against BSY

If you have nothing bad to publish what do you do? Its easy when it comes to Indian Media. Just use the old propaganda material used by others. IE’s report Astrologer Bhanu, BSY’s mystic mentor published on sunday falls in this category. They just reused the old reports published by Midday in report Black magic CM published on 2011-02-01 and Times of India report To ward off evil, BSY to do yoga in the buff? published on Feb 1, 2011

Media Watch had earlier written on this Outrageous Article in Midday and Propaganda war against BSY continues–now TOI takes lead

Its the same old Bhanu Prakash Sharma, his same old claims. Its amazing a National news papaer can publish headlines just based on claims from a quack!

IE quotes Congress leader Siddaramaiah

“But you don’t run a government this way. As Chief Minister, he should run the government within the framework of the Constitution and the Constitution says the CM should have a scientific approach. All this is foolish. I don’t believe in these things,”

Amusing that IE found it appropriate to seek Congress leader Siddaramaiahs opinion but it seems a clarification from the man who was at centre of news – BSY was not sought!

Guess this may be IE’s way of saying Happy Birthday BSY…..

Media Passes off LKA rebuke to Sonia as Apology

This entry into media watch is pertaining to the  L. K . Advanis so called “apology” to Sonia Gandhi on the issue of Black Money

Indian express in their report L K Advani says sorry to Sonia for Swiss account insult writes

Senior BJP leader L K Advani has apologised to Congress President Sonia Gandhi for a party-appointed taskforce report, which had alleged that she and her late husband Rajiv had accounts in Swiss banks.

This had led Sonia Gandhi to write a letter to Advani denying the allegation.

Sources said Gandhi had said neither she nor her husband held Swiss bank accounts.

In his reply to the Congress President's letter, Advani expressed regret that Rajiv and Sonia's name were mentioned in the report.

Advani, however, also stated in his reply that the Gandhis should have denied this publicly when there were murmurs that names of her family members could figure in the report.

Advani said the name of her family members would not have then figured in the taskforce report.

TOI published exactly same news under the report Advani says sorry to Sonia on Swiss bank account issue. Perhaps for first time in history TOI and IE carried news which matches word to word

As expected NDTV goes overboard in their report Advani apologises to Sonia for black money allegations

Senior BJP leader L K Advani has apologised to Congress President Sonia Gandhi for a party-appointed task force report, which had alleged that she and her late husband Rajiv had accounts in Swiss banks.

Sources said in the letter, Gandhi had said that neither she nor her husband held Swiss bank accounts.
In his reply to the Congress President's letter, Advani expressed regret about her name and that of her late husband being mentioned in the task force report.
However, Advani also stated in his reply that the Gandhis should have denied this publicly when there were murmurs that names of her family members could figure in the report.

Advani said had she done so, the name of her family members would not have figured in the task force.

NDTV’s Group editor Barkha Dutt even speculated about unrest in BJP due to this issue. Not sure where she got her info or was it a figment of her fertile imagination

Grumblings and rumblings within BJP over Advani's apology to sonia gandhi. belief that it weakens the party's black money campaign..

Of all the Media Houses, IBN has given a more balanced report. They in their report Black money charge: Advani regrets hurting Sonia writes

In the letter Advani said that it would have been better if she (Sonia) had clarified on the black money issue earlier. Then the BJP task force would not have made the allegations, he wrote in the letter. Advani also regretted any hurt caused to Sonia.

A BJP task force letter written by Advani at the BJP's national executive at Guwahati had alleged that Sonia and her husband Rajiv Gandhi held foreign bank accounts.

In response, Sonia wrote a letter denying that she or any one from her family had any such accounts.

The BJP has been demanding that the names of those with money stashed abroad be made public.

However, Congress sources told CNN-IBN that Advani has not apologised to Sonia.

Lets start the analysis keeping in background the fact that the budget session of parliament is slated to start Feb 21 and congress will again be cornered for JPC on 2G scam. Also, lets the be reminded of PM’s press conference fiasco.

Lets start with the basic issue is apology same as regret?

The difference between apology and regret is important. For example, in Australia, the Prime Minister,John Howard has refused to apologise to the Aboriginal but he has expressed regret. In the downing of US surveillance aircraft in China, the US president, George W. Bush has expressed deep regret but has refused to apologise, despite the Chinese government demanding it.

What is the difference? The definition of the the word apology includes an admission of error or wrongdoing on one's part.  Regret is not an admission of wrongdoing!

So it means that LKA has not admitted that the inclusion of name of Sonias family was an wrongdoing!

Now lets check the context in which “regret” was used

In the letter Advani said that it would have been better if she (Sonia) had clarified on the black money issue earlier. Then the BJP task force would not have made the allegations, he wrote in the letter. Advani also regretted any hurt caused to Sonia.

India Blooms News Service reports

Then the BJP task force would not have made such allegations, he wrote.
Advani also regretted if Sonia was hurt.

So even the usage of regret was for the hurt it may have caused. In fact on the issue of black money, LKA seems to have rapped on her knuckles of Sonia for not publicly clarifying this issue.  Also, IBN has quoted congress sources denying LKA has apologized!

It is also interesting to note that how media is attributing news about Sonia to sources (thus by implication not sure or to be denied later)

Sources said Gandhi had said neither she nor her husband held Swiss bank accounts.

While reporting on LKA’s letter was carried as as if they have LKA letter with them(not attributed to source). In such case, one would be tempted to ask why is the letter not published in totality?

Lastly, if you would notice source of all this news is PTI (NDTV-PTI, TOI-PTI, IE-Agencies) while IBN is attributing the source to its own correspondents. This may be the reason why IBN report is different from all others.

Now BJP has released the actual letter which was send to Sonia Gandhi and as expected Media was twisting the facts out of context.  As you would notice from the letter, LKA has said

On my return from Kolkatta last night I found your letter dated 15 February awaiting me.

I am happy that you have categorically denied the reports alluded to in the Task Force’s report on Black Money.  If these had been denied earlier, I am sure the Task Force would have factored in, the denial in its report.  Even so, I deeply regret the distress caused to you.

Only Indian media is capable of twisting a rebuke from a senior politician like LKA into an apology! 

SHAME ON INDIAN MEDIA

Media Watch

Media says Arun Shourie “summoned and to be questioned”

This entry into Media Watch is pertaining to the news appearing in Media that CBI has summoned Arun Shourie for questioning.

Times of India in its report 2G scam: CBI to question Arun Shourie on Feb 21 writes

The CBI approached Shourie last week asking him to appear before the agency in connection with the preliminary enquiry registered by the agency following a direction from the Supreme Court. ….he later conveyed to the agency that he will appearing before it on February 21 after his return from Kolkata.

Times Now goes even further and reports that CBI summons Shourie in 2G case writes

The Central Bureau of Investigation widens its investigations of the 2G spectrum allocation scam. Former telecom minister Arun Shourie is going to be questioned by the CBI on the the 2G scam. Shourie will be questioned on 21st February. Summons have been issued to him in relation to the 2G spectrum allocation policies he followed when he was the telecom minister in 2003.
Shourie speaking to TIMES NOW has played down the summons and said that he would meet the CBI officials whenever they want and that he would make himself available to the CBI on the February 21.

Arun Shourie will appear before the CBI in connection with the agency's probe into possible criminal aspects in the telecom policy since 2001. The CBI approached Shourie last week asking him to appear before the agency in connection with the Preliminary Enquiry registered by the agency following a direction from the Supreme Court.

So if one were to be believe Times Now, it would appear CBI has widened its investigations to include Arun Shourie and he will be questioned by CBI. When asked Arun Shourie tried to ‘downplay’ the summons

Deccan Chronicle gives an amusing twist in its report 2G scam: CBI summons Arun Shourie after 'warning' interview and writes

The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned former Telecom Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Shourie for questioning in the 2G scam.

Shourie had claimed in an interview earlier that he had warned party colleagues Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, and even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the 2G scam. But he maintains, his words were completely ignored by everyone.Shourie also claimed that he had approached the Prime Minister with 'all the details of the front companies of sacked telecom minister A. Raja' and was promised a meeting with the PM’s principal secretary, but no call

Take notice how Deccan Chronicle tires to down play PM part.

Infact, todays Deccan Chronicle Says Shourie to be grilled by CBI (refer last screenshot)

Surprisingly, even Indian Express reports in their article 2G scam: CBI calls in Shourie for probe

The CBI approached Shourie last week asking him to appear before the agency in connection with the Preliminary Enquiry registered by the agency following a direction from the Supreme Court.

In  Aam Admi’s parlance, the words like summon and questioning are used when one is accused of a wrong doing and the police ‘summon’ you for ‘questioning’. So if we were to take Media reports at face value, CBI has ‘summoned’ Arun shourie for ‘questioning’…

But whats the fact?

To understand the actual facts, we have to back refer older news which were linked to Aruns interview,

Indian Express in their report ‘I named 2G front cos to PM in 2009’ 

Shourie, who has called up the CBI on various occasions to offer his assistance, said that he is going to meet the CBI on February 21. “I offered to meet them yesterday, but the officers said they had to prepare for their Court appearance. After I meet them, I will tell the press the exact questions they asked along with my reply.”

Even, NDTV in its report 2G spectrum probe: Arun Shourie to appear before CBI on Feb 21 writes

BJP leader and former Telecom Minister Arun Shourie will appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 21 in connection with its probe into the 2G spectrum scam. He has offered to explain to the agency all that he knows about the scam.

IBN in its report 2G scam: CBI to question Arun Shourie on Feb 21 writes

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned former telecom minister Arun Shourie for questioning in connection to the 2G scam on February 21.

Shourie volunteered himself to be questioned on the scam. Shourie had told CNN-IBN that he had written a letter to the CBI seeking an appointment on February 21.

Indian Express reports details of Aruns conversation during Idea Exchange here. This is what exactly Arun Said 

Shekhar Gupta: Has the CBI been in touch with you?

Arun Shourie: I had rung up Mr. A P Singh, the CBI Director, about two months ago, saying that now that you are questioning former officials like Pradip Baijal and Vinod Vaish, I am sure you would want to question me, so I will come any day. The date has been fixed for February 21.

Amusingly, as always IBN took a risk free approach and tried to please both sides. Saving grace is they do report that Shourie “volunteered himself to be questioned”

So from the reports above it seems that Shourie was not “summoned for questioning” but he “volunteered himself to be questioned”. At first glace both seems to be same but first one usually is done by a accused while later is done by a honest and upright person with noble intentions.

We have to learn from our media to turn a “upright person with noble intentions” to someone who is “summoned for questioning”