In a critical conversation with Mujeeb Jaihoon, Dr. Shama Mohamed, the ‘Fair & Fiery’ media panelist of Indian National Congress, takes a jab at the Modi government’s disastrous divisive rule and failed foreign policy.
(Edited version of online interview recorded on July 3 2020)
MEDIA FREEDOM
Press freedom is deteriorating under Modi government.
The Establishment is using pressure tactics on Media if they don’t fall in line
The pre-2014 govt. faced severe media criticism
Corruption allegations are under reported nor questioned
INTOLERANCE
Modi is the first PM not to hold press conference
One-sided Sermons are not enough
Journalists don’t accompany on foreign trips
SELECTIVE TARGETING
ISLAM is a scientific religion.
Community organizations should honor the concerns of society’s general health in line with Prophetic practice.
Kerala’s success in Covid-19 management is out of its education, decade-old primary health policy and participation by local bodies.
Primary healthcare in many parts of India is dismal.
Particular community is targeted in line with Modi government’s divide and rule policy reminiscent of the colonial East Indian Company
KERALA MODEL
Literacy, primary healthcare, communal harmony, untouched by Partition woes, and social reformers contributed to Kerala Model
Muslim upliftment in Kerala is not based on appeasement
Muslim vote in Kerala is based on well informed decisions, free from the manifesto of the Maulavi.
Educating Muslim Community is crucial for their progress in the country.
Indian Muslims are poorer than Dalits.
Tolerance is greater among communities in Kerala.
Keralites are brought up to respect everyone including Dalits.
FOREIGN POLICY
Banning selective apps is not the solution to fight border transgression.
Funds from foreign companies should be made transparent.
India had constructive relations with neighbors pre-2014
Muslim countries are upset with the discriminatory CAA
Big brother policy cannot help foreign relations
Foreign affairs is not a one man show
Inviting perpetrators to the country is anti-national.
Only in present India is the Government given free hand while Opposition is questioned.
One comment
>Press Freedom – earlier media used to do the bidding of the so called secular govt , it was a quid pro quo . What has happened is that the baton has passed hands . INC has only taught the other governments how to make the media do their bidding.
>Establishment using pressure tactics – yes indeed , see how Arnab Goswami is being hounded and questioned endlessly during covid times because he spoke against the ruling govt , only the fact is that the ruling govt is NCP / CONG and SHIV SENA combine. SO yes truth to power is still costly. Ask the comedians who are deleting their old videos and issuing apology against this same govt. sadly BJP And MODI dont factor anywhere in this debate
>Pre 2014 govt received valid criticism because most of its second term it was a lame duck govt with various scams surfacing. The culture of commission based purchases in defence and other industries were the norm till then
>Corruption cases are underreported – because they are built on flimsy grounds , for example the Rafale so called controversy – Rahul gandhi was uttering one new statement everyday and there was no clarity in the kind of quid pro quo that he was trying to establish , was just brandishing -“Chowkidar Chor hai ” reminiscent of Rajiv Gandhi Bofors days ( which had reams and reams of evidence ) Even so called newspaper _ The Hindu jumped in to establish ‘quid pro quo”with doctored documents . so basically corruption cases when properly investigated and brought forward will still hold water but all rahul gandhi was tryin to do was window dressing and trying to brand Modi a thief which backfired spectacularly
> Modi not holding press conference – well thats his personal choice and yes ideally he should be doing but most of this ‘Lutyens” brigade journos are having an intention of trying to provoke him into saying something explosive ,but as a leader ideally he should do it
>One sided sermons – when the opposition and so called ‘secular’ civil society are hell bent on just removing Modi because he is from RSS and represents majority ,their sermons are also high handed and doesnt appear to be genuine dialog , so pm can take it as per his convenience
>Journos should spent their money and go on their own to foreign tours or their media companies should sponsor , this entitlement has rightfully ended .just another case of quid pro quo
I dont have the energy to write and counter each point of yours but i wish you could come out of your prism of religion and evaluate objectively . Unless thats done you cant make any change , i promise you. BJP and modi and his next set of leaders will be the ruling the central government for many more years.