(This is a reprint from NewsBred.)
We all know that Lutyens Media reluctantly covers Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "mann ki baat." That most inane part of his speech, and not its heart, is made into headlines. Now that Modi has written a blog on the socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia on his 110th birth anniversary (March 23), they have chosen to publish the reactions of the opposition rather than give ample space to the blog content.
Such has been the strategy of Indian Express and the Hindustan Times. The Hindu hasn't bothered to publish even a line. Only Times of India has done justice but it's the exception that proves the rule.
Let's detail out Modi's blog first so readers could rightfully conclude that their newspapers have surgically removed its most potent parts. Here it is:
"Dr Lohia knew how disastrous Congress was. In 1962 he said: During the Congress regime neither agriculture and industry nor the army has improved.
"Anti-Congressism was Dr. Lohia's heart and soul. His efforts ensured a shock to the then all-powerful Congress in 1967 elections. That time, Atal Ji remarked--"Due to Dr. Lohia's efforts, one could travel on board the Howrah-Amritsar Mail without having to pass a single Congress state!...
"The veteran socialist leader from Odisha, Shri Surendranath Dwivedy, remarked, 'He (Dr. Lohia) was imprisoned many times more during Congress regime than under the British rule.'
"Yet, today those parties that falsely claim to be Dr. Lohia's followers are desperate to form an opportunistic Maha Milawat or adulteration alliances with the same Congress. It is both ironical and reprehensible.
"Dr. Lohia always believed that dynastic politics was inimical to democracy. He would have been flabbergasted to see his 'followers' think about their own families first instead of the nation.
"Sadly, the parties that claim to be his followers forgot the principle. They believe in 'Satta', 'Swarth' and 'Shoshan'. These parties are experts at grabbing power, looting as much as possible and exploiting others. Poor people, Tribals, Dalits, OBCs and women are not safe in their rule because these parties give a free run to criminals and anti-social elements.
"In his works, Dr. Lohia called for complete equality between men and women. (Today, these parties) who dishonestly claim to be Dr. Lohia's followers opposed the NDA Government's move to abolish the inhuman practice of Triple Talaq.
"Is the commitment to vote bank politics bigger than the commitment to Dr. Lohia's thoughts? Today, a moot question facing 130 crore Indians is:
"How can those who betrayed Dr. Lohia be expected to serve the nation?...
"Today they are betraying the principles of Dr. Lohia, tomorrow they will also betray the people of India."
Phew! This is as damning as it gets; it's another matter your newspapers wouldn't let out the heart of the matter of Modi's blog.
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