RECENTLY I RECEVED an e-mail, which throws light on the deepening rot in the manner of news coverage by the Indian television channels. I got this mail from a person who identified himself as Philip. Read on…
 
”The body of Major Manish Pitambare, who was shot dead in Anantnag, was cremated with full military honours at Thane. This was a fleeting news on the TV on Wednesday.

A day earlier, the news that swept across channels were: “Sanjay Dutt relieved by the court”. “Sirf Munna, not a bhai”, “13 saal ka vanvaas khatam”, “although found guilty for possession of arms, Sanjay can breathe sigh of relief as all TADA charges against him are withdrawn”.

And, then stars like Salman Khan were seen saying, “He is a good person. We knew he would come out clean.” It was echoed by Big B: “Dutt family and our family have relations for years; he’s a good kid. He is like an elder brother to Abhishek.” And, you saw Priya Dutt, saying: “We can sleep well tonight. It’s a great relief.”

Among other news, Parliament was mad at the Indian team’s poor performance and over something Greg Chapell said. Then you had the bomb scare story in Gorakhpur Express; and Shah Rukh Khan replacing Big B in KBC and Sonia asking the prime minister to consider reducing petroleum prices (I wonder who’s the PM). But the emphasis was given on Sanjay Dutt’s “phoenix-like” comeback from the ashes of terrorist charges.

Surfing through the channels, one BBC news startled me: Hizbul Mujahedeen’s most-wanted terrorist Sohel Faizal killed in Anantnag, India. Indian Major, leading the operation, lost his life in the process. Four others are injured.

It was past midnight, and I had switched to the silly channel, which calls itself “sabse tez”. Sanju Baba was still ruling the channel news.

The presenters were telling how Sanju Baba had pleaded before the court, “I am the sole bread earner for my family… I have a daughter who is studying in US… Who will look after her?” And, then they spoke of Sanju Baba not wearing his lucky blue shirt when the verdict was delivered. Also, how he went to every temple and had prayed so much in the last few months.

A suspect in Mumbai bomb blasts, convicted under the Arms Act, was being made a hero.

Sure Sanju Baba has a daughter; sure Sanju Baba did not indulge in any terrorist activity like bombing some place or hijacking an airplane. Possessing an AK 47 is considered too elementary in terrorist community and also one who possesses an AK 47 has a right to possess a pistol. So that again is not such a big crime; sure Sanju Baba went to all the temples; sure he did a lot of gandhigiri, but then... people. Please read on...

Major Manish H Pitambare got the information from his sources about the terrorists’ whereabouts. Wasting no time, he attacked the camp; killed the Hizbul Mujahedeen supremo and in the process lost his life...
to the bullets fired from an AK 47.

He has a wife and a daughter, just like Sanju Baba. Age 18 months.

Major Manish never said, “I have a daughter” before he took the decision to attack the terrorist hideout on the dark night. He never thought he had a family and was the bread earner.

But no news channel covered this. They were too busy hyping a former drug addict, an actor in real and reel life, a suspect who’s linked to bomb blasts that killed hundreds. Their aim was to show how he defied TADA charges and they were so successful that his conviction in possession of arms had no meaning. They also concluded that his parents in heaven must be happy and proud of him.

Parents of Major Pitambare are still on this earth and they have to live rest of their lives without their beloved son. His daughter won’t ever see her papa again.

There is no greater hero than one who laid his life in the name of this great nation. Major Pitambare you are the real Star. Jai Hind.”

Media certainly doesn’t know what story to play up and what not. TV channels are only interested in increasing the viewership, even if it involves travesty or belittling of the truth. It is a shame that a foreign channel is breaking the real news to us.

 
The Indian media needs to introspect to get the priorities right.