Freedom of the media has been deteriorating
around the country over the past 5 years. In Goa muzzling of the media began
much earlier. It roughly began during the reign of Luizinho Faleiro as chief
minister and was carried forward by late Manohar Parrikar.
Parrikar used not only schemes to lure
journalists, he even offered party tickets to contest elections. Those whom he
could not entice or tame, he abused them during media briefings.
Hence the recent taunting of a journalist by
Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai at his party office in Panjim does not come as a
surprise. This politician is undoubtedly a control freak. He just wants to have
total control over journalists.
He does have some journalists lapping him all
over, he does have journalists doing his PR work, allegedly there are snitches
among the journalist fraternity who pass information to him and there are
others who even send video and audio clippings to him.
But there are other journalists who are true to
journalism and care two hoots for his chips and goodies. These guys have the
courage to ask him embarrassing questions. These are the type of journalists he
abhors and resort to insulting and abusing them.
At the moment he is a spent force, he was
stripped of his powers. Non-Goan chief minister of Goa has questioned Vijay’s
growing graph of wealth. His construction at the residence has been stayed
hence the frustration.
These are concerted attempts by the
politicians to throttle the independence of the press. These are signs of
repression. Because of few journalists who display guts and grits to question
politicians is what keeps the light of journalism being extinguished.
The Fatorda legislator, who sold his soul for
power and was then unceremoniously dropped as deputy chief minister of Goa
should first know that journalism, is all about asking questions till the truth
is unearthed. Press conference or briefing is held so that the journalists can
get an opportunity to question otherwise press-note could be issued.
Press briefing is not about journalists taking
dictation, journalists are not stenographers. Briefings are about cross-examination,
it is about finding the truth among the heap of lies that politician adopt to
show themselves in good stead. For politicians like Vijay lies are “alternative
facts.”
Thus Sardessai’s outburst of being
cross-examined by the media at a press conference is misplaced and tantamount
to abuse of journalists and demeaning its freedom of press.
The erosion of press freedom is both a
symptom of and a contributor to the breakdown of democratic institutions and
principles. Legislators like Fatorda MLA thrive is such situations and
condition.
Goa Union of Journalist is just toothless
identity. The union does not have the spine to take on erring politicians.
After some explosion on the social media, things are back to normal. The
journalist who was abused has to swallow the insult and get on with his work.
The executive committee of the GUJ should try
to bring unity among journalists. GUJ should urge its members to boycott
Sardessai’s functions in his offices or in his fiefdom and instead direct him to
address the media in the press-rooms. Fatorda MLA should not be even given
importance during state functions or other events.
He should be made to realize the importance
of journalism and journalists and that they are not his secretaries to take
down dictation.
But what can you expect of individuals who
have come into public life after spending major part of his life in the company
of anti-social elements, the mannerism learnt and adopted with goons and the
likes tend to surface when dealing with civilized world.
The language that the Fatorda MLA used to
abuse the journalist, smacks of such attitude.
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| Nisser Dias |
Now coming to the ‘regret’ expressed by Vijay
Sardessai. It is ridiculous for GUJ to even accept it as sincere regret. He
clearly says that he does not feel his statements were unwarranted and unethical.
He regrets that Goa Union of Journalists and its member Harish Volvoikar felt
it that way. There is absolutely no genuineness and sincerity in his regret.
That is Vijay Sardessai.
And for the journalist’s body to even accept it
is hogwash and outright nonsense and injustice to Harish Volvoikar. By
accepting it as ‘regret’ GUJ has exposed itself as spineless and incapable of
safeguarding the rights and freedom of journalists and journalism.
