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| Corrupt bureaucrats out to muzzle Early Times | | Beyond spirit of 'Republic' | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 25: Beyond the countrywide preparations for the upcoming 70th Republic Day to commemorate imposition of rule of people in the country including J&K, the fact remains that a nexus between corrupt bureaucrats and politicians has conveniently hijacked the spirit of democracy and the rule of people.
This strong nexus of corrupt babus and politicians has conspired to muzzle the voice of justice and dissent expressed against their corrupt deals. Early Times has been a victim of the deep rooted conspiracy of this connivance which has tried its best to blackmail your newspaper and arm-twist it to toe their line or turn mute by stopping government advertisements it deserves.
For years, your newspaper has braved these blackmail tactics by handful of corrupt bureaucrats and politicians who get offended by the valiant and uncompromising reportage. On umpteen occasions, your newspaper has been directly approached to fall in line and get it due share of government advertisement, but ET has valued the trust and conviction of its readers more than the share of governments advertisements which it has been wrongfully denied.
Eventhough your newspaper joins the nation in celebrating this national festival, yet the hypocrisy behind celebrating the anniversary of India becoming a Republic however needs to be questioned. Who shall ensure the rule of people and uphold the voice of justice when the governments and its instruments turn blackmailers and use government advertisements to gag newspapers who refuse to toe their line?
It would not be inappropriate on the eve of 70th Republic Day, to expect the Government of the day, which is apolitical, to look into the manner in which your newspaper is being selectively targeted by a group of corrupt bureaucrats and their political masters and restore the faith of system in freedom of press and journalism of courage.
Republic is a Roman word. A republican state is one in which power rests with the citizens. Democracy is a Greek word. It means a state in which leaders are chosen from among the general population, and not the aristocracy.
But in reality ruling elites in J&K are still functioning like aristocrats and dictators and anybody who dares to the expose misdeeds of ruling class has to face brutality and wrath of ruling elites- who so ever may be at the helm of the affairs.
Dissident voices were shamelessly gagged by the regimes with one way or other by abusing state apparatus by the state governments of all political parties. Ruling parties of J&K are so ruthless that leaders of these parties never hesitate to gag voice of opponents through oppressive means. Ruthlessness of ruling elites of J&K authenticates that people of J&K are not getting real benefits of the Indian Republic.
Governments from time to time have suppressed dissident voices with one way or others. As far as media is concerned, successive state governments abused their positions to influence media in the Republic. Early Times, which has earned credential as true voice of the people of J&K, is glaring example of aristocratic style of working of ruling elites of the state. When ruling elites failed to gag voice of Early Times through oppressive means they stopped advertisement of this people's news paper.
Media is forced to put Government's interest above the citizen's can align itself to the name Republic. This is done without irony and perhaps without even understanding of what the word Republic means. The government's interests can be supreme in a martial law state like autocratic ruler not in constitutionally Republican country like India.
It is obvious that we are a democracy, because our leaders are chosen by voters. But are we a Republic? Does real power rest with the citizens of India? The interest of the governments and its organs are put above the interest of India's people. When state governments feel their vested interests are threatened by highlighting their failures, it will not hesitate to put them down with lethal force. |
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