ToI launched ‘Gandhi Gen-Five’ way back in 2009

ToI officially launched Gandhi Gen five from Priyanka - Rehan (7) and Maira (5) during the auspicious occasion of “"canvassing for mamaji" . The new offering from Gandhi family was escorted by an old loyal former pradhan of Chandosi gram sabha Kanhaiya. Even though nation has no doubts about capabilities of any new product from Gandhi Family, ToI quoted Mr. Singh (who also helped Launch Gandhi Gen 4) on their capabilities with an old Awadhi saying,

"Kathi ki bili bhi gungunati hai (even a cat in the house of a katha singer knows how to hum)."

He didnot clarify if it only hums or whether it catches mice also? We guess being Katha Singers cat brings its own benefits.

He also added how Gandhi Gen 5 needs no tutoring

"the two took to meeting people like fish takes to water". . "Gandhi parivar ke bachcho ko bhala kya samjhane ki zaroorat hai (where's the need to train a Gandhi kid),"

Of course, who would disagree. Its all ingrained and preprogrammed into the special genes some may say pedigree. The villagers narrate stories of how one of them used to fly rockets even when he was 10 years old. I am sure it might be an exaggeration but as in case of Katha Singers cat who knows? 

Then ToI explains a days in Little Rehans life. How like a consummate politician, he hit it off with elders by bending down and touching their feet….. of course without any prompting(at least visible) and then parting with a crisp one-liner:

"Rahul mama ko zaroor vote dijiye (please vote for Uncle Rahul)." 

ToI goes on to explain how Rehan wlaked in Dalit dominated area, stopped by an ailing old man and asked, "How are you uncle?" before repeating the all-important message. The children even walked into huts to meet and chat up veiled women who were reluctant to come out in presence of village seniors.

ToI quoted Mummy Priyanka that  they

even provided her with valuable feedback on problems like power cuts facing the constituency

We are not sure if Gandhi Gen 5 asked the million dollar questions “Mummy why do we have power cut even after 60 years of our families glorious rule”

Its a proud day for the nation. The awestruck audience at Amethi watched with their mouths wide open. The Media gathered for witnessing the special occasion has gone hyper with Joy. Its rumored that some of the anchors/ were seen weeping with joy, some even fainted at first sight of Gen 5. There is no truth in usual opposition canard that the degree of fainting/weeping was directly proportional to advertisement revenue from Government of India.

We only hope “Maira” changes her name when traveling to Kerala!! I can only imagine the face of Anthony trying to call the girl by her name………

 

Saga of another apology.. This time its to Rahul Gandhi!

For the unaware, this entire issue started with former Supreme Court judge Justice Iyer writing a sharply worded letter to Rahul Gandhi on April 9, criticizing him for the policies of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre. Iyer said that Rahul Gandhi may become a good government later on in his life, but right now he is not a good leader.

“He has nothing to say new to this country. He is not a socialist by conviction. He has no ideology at all. Such a person when he goes in the villages, people out of curiosity to see this man come and see,”

As expected the retort to the letter was quick and swift.

On April 17th, most of Media houses carried news of Rahuls ‘sharply worded’ letter to Justice Iyer. In letter, he allegedly claimed

``like most right thinking Indian people'', he was working quietly on that problem as he had ``absolutely no interest'' in becoming a hero.

What most of Media Houses and Rahuls PR team did not anticipate was angry reaction to the PR spin that “Rahul is working quietly to solve the rot in the system”. ToI article I am working to improve a rotten system: Rahul Gandhi attracted 1928 comments and still counting. Almost all the comments were highly critical of Rahul Gandhi(refer Screenshot). Some of comments were

Is this a joke? Your party and family ruled the country for the past 50 years and you were part of govt in the past 6 years. Did you forget 2G happened under your nose. Hero? You should be in Jail.

I think TOI should take a copy of all these comments posted on this article and send that to Congress Party headquarters. If there is one single sensible person left in the party which has completely forgotten its responsibilities and has become the most immoral, unethical & corrupt party of the country, they should know the opinions of the countrymen about their party, their leaders and their policies. If a little sense of self-esteem still exists in them, they should immediately dissolve their party, vacate the PM chair and withdraw from the Indian politics...

Having failed in plan A, now it seems Media and Rahuls PR team has rolledout Plan B. Most of Media houses are now reporting that “Justice Iyer apologizes to Rahul Gandhi”

ToI in its article Justice Iyer apologizes to Rahul Gandhi writes

Former Supreme Court judge VR Krishna Iyer, who had launched a scathing attack on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, on Monday sent an apology letter to him.\

Almost identical news was carried by Rediff, Midday etc

All this Hype makes one wonder what was this apology. Following is the text of so called apology

"Forgive me if I have been bitter in my letter to you. I am too old (97) and critical of parties CPM and Congress for governmental delinquencies," 

PErhaps we are missing something., Media Watch even after best efforts cannot even a scent of apology in the above. BUt we can clearly see sarcasm. It is amazing how a sarcastic comment from Justice Iyer is twisted out of context and made to look like an apology!

This reminds us of the of the blackmoney issues in which  Media Passed off rebuke by LK Advani to Sonia as Apology

ToI could have used a proper picture of 'athirathram'

Media Watch is not surprised at general lack of Media coverage of 4,000-year-old ritual of 'athirathram' is being performed in Kerala. Improper depiction of actual event is even worse! Please take a look at the picture accompanying ‘athirathram’ news published by ToI! Below is the actual picture of the Athirathram

More Photo of Athirathram can be viewed Here

Media Watch

Is TOI using Morphed pictures of celebrities?

From the looks of it  ToI has used morphed picture of Vidya Balan?

Now its seems this is not the first time ToI has done this. Another blogger DIG TV has reported Times of India caught red handed publishing morphed photo of Kareena Kapoor

DGTV Reports as under

On 9th May 2009, TOI had published Kareena Kapoor's Morphed Photo. Look at her face.

Now, have a look at the original photo of Jeniffer Lopez

Today, I tried to search this photo again with the search title "Draped Desires" but could not find it, which means TOI has removed the photo from its archives.

Question to TOI : What was its purpose to stoop down so low ?

TOI: Was this a News or Views?

This news item from ToI is another case in which Headlines of news has no resemblance to what is reported in the Body. In fact, this may be one of those extreme cases in which the entire news is just a figment of Imagination of the Reporter.

The Headline of the news item says Civil society's victory fails to enthuse BJP. But NOT once  (Repeat once) did body of news mentions how the reporter came up with this conclusion?

Has Band of faithful in media started “Protect Sonia” campaign?

Anna’s movement is gaining momentum, congress is increasingly getting isolated. Now is the time you can expect articles and news in media intended to protect two key stakeholders in the ruling establishment – Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi

ToI article Lokpal Bill: Govt bows to janata mantra as Sonia Gandhi too backs Anna Hazare's crusade makes no attempt to hide their intentions. They report

Three days after Anna Hazare began fasting to demand civil society's participation in drafting the Lokpal Bill — which will provide for a mechanism to check government corruption — a ringing endorsement by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has pushed the government into a corner

So ToI wants us to believe that Sonia Gandhi’s selected (NOT ELECTED) prime minister and government made of her own party members is not listening to her so and she has to push them into corner by endorsing Anna Hazares movement!!

As if this was not enough ToI article yesterday read Sonia Gandhi pleads but Anna Hazare doesn't give up as talks fail. The headline gives an impression that Anna is arrogant in his demand while sonia is “pleading”

NDTV homepage report Thank you Sonia, but please do more, says Anna Hazare and the accompanying picture is also noteworthy. Sonia Gandhi may not have visited Anna Hazare… but then why should she when photoshop can do wonders. We guess Larger size Sonia behind Anna pondering is just coincidental.

Hindustan Times in its article Hazare has Sonia's vote reports

Following calls for her intervention, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday appealed to Anna Hazare to end his fast, demanding a joint committee to draft a strong Lokpal Bill. As support for the anti-corruption crusader grew across the country, Gandhi stepped in and issued a statement, saying she was pained by Hazare's indefinite fast.

What ever Media may want us to believe the fact of the day is Sonia is presiding over a party which has given us Indias most corrupt government in India. and if Sonia Really wanted Annas Hunger Strike would not have reached 4th day

Media Watch

ToI takes a disgusting and Cheap Shot at Sangh Parivar!

Times of India takes a cheap Shot at Sangh Parivar by calling Lankan Team Sanga Parivar!!!

Thanks @SKS_Mumbai for lead

@scamsutra has done a great analysis of the news report

So was it a slap or a motion of Hand that grazed face or just a push?

This is further to yesterdays shameful incident in which congress agriculture minister YS Vivekananda Reddy slapped TDP MLA.

If yesterdays news reports avoided mentioning congress name in the report. Today, it seems that they are even diluting his shameful act.

Yesterday ToI in its news report YSR's brother slaps MLA during Andhra assembly session reported the incident as

,a visibly angry Vivekananda Reddy got up from his seat, walked to the TDP benches and started arguing with its senior member G Muddukrishnammaaidu. Even as the argument was in progress, TDP MLA Prabhakar, who was in the second row, said something to the minister who promptly slapped him and when he attempted to slap the TDP MLA for the second time, Muddukrishnammanaidu came in between and took the blow on his shoulder.

But now within 24 hours it seems the Indian news cant make up its mind on whether it was a slap or a motion of hand that grazed the face or was it pushing and shoving

ToI in its report Viveka ‘slaps’ TDP MLA for anti-YSR rant narrates the incident as

A furious Vivekananda then aimed a slap at Prabhakar that grazed his face. When he attempted again, Muddukrishnamma intervened because of which the blow aimed at Prabhakar brushed the senior TDP MLA and tore the latter's pocket.

I am not sure which part of town ToI lives, but in my part of town such acts are invariable called slapping!

NDTV even refused to acknowledge that there was a physical contact! In their report  YSR's brother tries to slap MLA narrates the incident as

A minister in Andhra Pradesh - the brother of the former Chief Minister YSR Reddy - tried to hit an MLA today in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

Hindustan report YSR's brother manhandles TDP MLAs in Andhra house goes a step further and says minister only pushed the MLA

The angry minister rushed to TDP legislators C Prabhakar and GMK Naidu, snatched the placards, showered abuses and even pushed Prabhakar. 

So according to HT, congress agriculture minister YS Vivekananda only pushed TDP MLAs who promptly retaliated. Then it was other

Media goes all out to protect congress image in Andhra Pradesh

This entry pertains to shocking incident perhaps first time in Independent India when a Congress minister in the AP government slapped an opposition MLA right in the assembly. The incident happened when TDP MLAs raised slogans minutes after the house met, a visibly angry Vivekananda Reddy got up from his seat, walked to the TDP benches and started arguing with its senior member G Muddukrishnammaaidu. Even as the argument was in progress, TDP MLA Prabhakar, who was in the second row, said something to the minister who promptly slapped him and when he attempted to slap the TDP MLA for the second time, Muddukrishnammanaidu came in between and took the blow on his shoulder.

And how do Media report

NDTV reports this as YSR's brother tries to slap MLA. In their entire report, NDTV not once NOT EVEN ONCE mention that Vivekananda Reddy is from congress. Most of time he is either addressed as YSR’s brother or minister in Andhra Pradesh NDTV introduces him as

A minister in Andhra Pradesh - the brother of the former Chief Minister YSR Reddy

ToI also reports the same incident as YSR's brother slaps MLA during Andhra assembly session. Again in the entire report there is no mention that Vivekananda Reddy is from congress. ToI introduces him as

Y S Vivekananda Reddy, the brother of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy who is a member of the legislative council and present in the assembly in his capacity as agriculture minister.

Indian Express report YSR's brother slaps MLA for insulting former CM is also in similar line.

Media Watch would like to understand is this new official position that all the people would be mentioned by their relations? Can we expect to see news Sonia Wife of Rajiv Gandhi said or Rahul Gandhi Son of Sonia Gandhi said so and so?

For the unaware Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy is congress handpicked man to counter Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy who has revolted against congress leadership. He is expected to be fielded against Vijayalakshmi wife, YSR’s widow, for the Pulivendula Assembly bypoll.

Times when you overshoot the target

This covers the ToI article “Austerity: 100% dip in ministers travel cost”. Even a class 05 student will tell ToI that 100% reduction of something is zero!  

ToI did eventually correct themselves in their online article after adverse reaction from readers Austerity pays: Sharp decline in ministers' travel expenses

Will ToI stop playing with numbers!

This entry into Media Watch is about ToI report Karnataka CM's pay to zoom 150%, ministers to get double. According to this report,

Karnataka's netas are giving themselves a Ugadi bonanza. Before winding up the ongoing legislature session, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, his cabinet and the legislators can expect a hefty salary raise.
According to the proposal, the CM's monthly salary will rocket 150% from Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000 and annual sumptuary allowance will double to Rs 1.5 lakh. The government is likely to move a bill on the pay hike in this session.

Using percentage to report changes is a time tested statistical trick to confuse audience. Example, if I spend say 1 Rupee today and tomorrow spend 2 Rupee. You can easily mislead by reporting the change as “100 % change” while the fact is it its just an increase of another rupee. 

And then it is amusing when ToI uses expressions like “zoom”; “double”; “bonaza”; “will rocket" while reporting this news. If we go by the phrases, it is easy to believe that Karnataka CM is doing something which is out of ordinary! Just to bring sanity into this discussion Media Watch would like to draw ToI’s attention to another CM who took a salary hike in recent months

In recent months another state who has approved a salary hike to CM, state ministers and MLAs is Maharashtra. ToI reported State ministers and MLAs to get hefty salary hike. In this report, ToI took the pain to report congress ministers view (it seems this privilege was not extended to Karnataka ministers) 

"Look at the salary packages of bureaucrats and the Indian Police Service top-brass . A fresh IAS or IPS officer draws a monthly salary of Rs 40,000-45 ,000, whereas the CM's monthly salary is less than Rs 30,000,"

So that gives the justification why there should be a hike. Wonder why ToI didnot report the views of Karnataka Ministers?  It would worthwhile noting that Maharashtra CM even before the hike drew a salary of Rs 30K. Per the ToI report the salary of Maharashtra is CM is being increased from Rs 29,000 per month to Rs 67,000 which is more that 130 percent change.

So it seems that ToI reserves all the superlatives for Karnataka CM when he increases his meager salary from Rs 12000 per month to Rs 30,000 But Maharashtra CM who gives himself a raise from Rs 29000 to Rs 67,000  is given a just hearing and reporting.

Blogspot disruptions - Should we be worried?

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

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".

Another day in TOI

Another day in TOI… Look at the priorities of news. Sonams dress disaster is higher than violent mob setting 3 buses on fire!

of course then you have Marde Dras parade and twonkle showing of baby bump!!

ToI labels Sikhs and KPs as activists from PoK

Above is from TOI article PM Manmohan Singh arrives in Jammu

First KP’s get kicked out of their home to become refugees in their own country. Now if we go by TOI caption, they donot even have a country!!

ToI poll on SC firing of CVC

Toi is conducting a poll to understand the impact of SC verdict on CVC. following is the result. Will TOI have guts to report this also

 

Similar act but different headlines from TOI one for BJP one for Cong

This entry into Media Watch is to show how TOI treats news differently depending upon who is involved. It seems they have one standard for BJP and another for Congress

Background is visit of BJP president Nitin Gadkari to Barak Valley and a similar visit by Tarun Gogoi, Congress CM.

Both of them talked about the plight of Hindu refugees in the valley as they were upset over a recent remark of AICC general secretary and Assam in-charge Digvijay Singh on the question of Hindu refugees. Digvijay Singh  had said

if a Hindu from Bangladesh comes to India after a stipulated time-frame he also should be treated as an infiltrator or a foreigner. There's no constitutional provision to treat Hindus coming from Bangladesh and Pakistan as refugees.

Now lets lets see what TOI says

ToI reports Gadkaris visit with a headline Gadkari plays Hindu card in Barak and writes

Everytime there's an election in Assam, BJP invariably plays the Hindu card at least in the state's Barak Valley region that shares a border with Bangladesh. This time too, the situation is in no way different as party president Nitin Gadkari has said no Hindu who came to India from Bangladesh and Pakistan should be treated as foreigners.

Nitin Gadari in his speech said

The people of India understand under what circumstances the Hindus had to flee the two neighbouring countries. They were compelled to do so. Nobody can send the refugee Hindus back to Bangladesh and Pakistan. BJP will not allow anybody to do so. If the Congress government terms the refugee Hindus as foreigners or illegal migrants, the people of India will throw the party away to Bangladesh

TOI reports Gogois with a Headline Eye on polls, Gogoi pledges 1000cr package for Barak and writes

Keeping in mind the coming assembly elections, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, promised the Barak Valley a Rs 1,000-crore package if the Congress wins in all the 15 segments of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi.

The chief minister tried to appease Hindu Bengalis in his speech who were upset over a recent remark of AICC general secretary and Assam in-charge Digvijay Singh on the question of Hindu refugees.

Gogoi in his speech said

The Congress has sympathy for those Hindus coming from Bangladesh under certain circumstances

If readers would notice both Nitin and Gogoi said exactly the same thing but TOI reported the news one with a positive sping and other with negative disdain! Most amazing is the contrast in language used for heading!

Can we assume that since its election time and Nitin might have not yet bought the “positive news” package.

Thanks @centerofright for lead

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.

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…..

Did TOI’s plagiarize Pak propaganda material and publishes as its own

This entry into Media Watch pertains to ToI Report Two pro-India parties floated in J&K with Army, MHA help. published today (22/02/11)

This article seems to be a straight lift from Pakistan propaganda websites and its worse considering the fact that ToI had the audacity to publish it as its own news. Please look at the report Proxy groups to be floated in held Kashmir published on 18/02/2011  in the website of The News.

A google search reveals the nature of groups circulating this news.

Media Watch is not surprised as earlier we had caught TOI writing an article on Incest with material lifted from Pakistani websites but one would have hoped they would be more careful using material which directly affects nations security!

Fellow twitterati @pawandurani checked with Omar Abdullah CM of J&K on veracity of the news and this was the reply he got

@iShahnaz @pawandurani strange that TOI now sources it's material on Kashmir from Pak based agencies rather than ask Govt of India.

Thanks @pawandurani  for the lead