The leader of
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari has advised Muslim
journalists to do, on their own, some investigative journalism to dig out facts
about terror blasts in the various parts of the country. Addressing Muslims
journalists during an Iftar party at JIH headquarters on August 3, he said, “A
section of media is looking hell-bent to witch-hunt a particular community
within minutes or hours of a terror blast…. Despite the fact that Hindutva
extremists have been found involved in various terror blasts across the country
including Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Dargah, Malegaon and Samjhauta Express and
several Hindutva extremists were killed while making bombs or carrying bombs in
the past, yet any blast takes place and police and media rather than probing
the incidents professionally and objectively, they start pointing fingers
directly or indirectly to Muslims.” (Twocircles.net) – It can be said here that
it is not proper to give Muslim or Non-Muslim colour to journalism as a
journalist is journalist; his duty is to report events and incidents and
analyse them honestly and comment on them in an unbiased manner.
But practically it is not so
It is alright as far as only statement is
concerned, but practically it is not so; had it been practically true, the JIH
Amir had not to make this suggestion. It remains a fact that the mainstream or
national media of this country happens to be characterless and dishonest; it is
a product for sale; during delicate situations government agencies run it in
accordance with their set lines on the basis of their strong purchasing power;
they also do this in the name of “national interest”. The minds of people associated
with media are affected; therefore they cannot report events and incidents
honestly as they have no interest in bringing the facts to the fore. The most
recent example is reporting from Pune. Some minor blasts took place there on
August 1; media persons started taking the name of “Indian Mujahideen” without
any second thought; then investigating agencies immediately declared that
neither Hindutva extremists nor Maoists had any hand in these blasts; and that
it was the work of “Indian Mujahideen” and in other words of Muslims. And the
entire media exerted all its powers quite brazenly to carry this theory further
while the ground realities clearly pointed towards the mischief of anti-Muslim
elements.
Why this work is necessary
This is why Muslim journalists should bring
the realities to the world, on their own. But the question is how Muslim
journalists can do this work. They have neither necessary wherewithal nor have
they access. The Muslim journalists associated with mainstream media are compelled
to work in strict conformity with the policies set by their respective channels
and papers; even if they prepare some stories (of their liking), their media do
not release them. The access of Muslim journalists is not limited. Even if they
gather the realities, they can get them published only in Urdu newspapers,
which have only Muslim readership. That is, they cannot influence agencies and
the government. Undoubtedly, these are the impediments before Muslim
journalists. But despite this, Muslim journalists should fulfil their
responsibilities, as far as feasible, towards the delicate issues having
far-reaching importance. Whether or not there is any major advantage of these
stories finding place in Urdu newspapers, one great benefit is that the record of
history will be set right and future historians and researchers will feel
compelled to write that the Muslims had been countering the allegations
levelled against them but the mainstream media had not been publishing those
ground realities rather used to suppressed them.
13/ 08/12 khabar-O-Nazar by
Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf
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