Isn't Indian media defending prostitution!

B D Narayankar

Most of the sensible citizens have been perplexed with the coverage of Mangalore pub attack by westernized Indian media. It was really difficult to fathom for what it stood for. In a way, it was defending prostitution, for what happened in Amnesia pub was nothing short of it.

The media made us believe that there was nothing wrong if our sisters, wives and daughters were drugged and paraded naked in pubs like Amnesia. It was arguing that girls should be allowed to freely go to pubs and get drunk and make love wherever they want to. The average Hindu doesn't approve of these amoral facets of life. Media has to be blamed for forcing people to take umbrage under outfits like Sri Ram Sene and Bajrang Dal.

Sadly, it is also very choosy in picking up their sources. It has interviewed the police, Sri Ram Sene activists and cross sections of the society. But hasn't caught up with the parents of girls who were assaulted. Why is it restraining itself to meet them up. It will be interesting to know whether they approve of their daughters putting up a naked show in pubs.

What could be the darkest day in India when women ministers - Sheila Dixit and Renuka Choudhary - were whining on television about the right to drink on January 30, the day when all Indians observe Martyrs Day (Gandhiji's death anniversary). These leaders sounded as though Gandhiji was wrong to stand for prohibition.

There is hardly any doubt of how Indian media covers some issues too. It downplays and ignores women assaulted by Muslim or Chritian organisations, but train guns vehemently against Hindu outfits, painting them as hooligans and lumpens. There's no denial that it is biased and anti-Hindu.

Just read these news items:

From NDTV:

Controversial writer Taslima Nasreen was attacked by an unruly crowd at the Hyderabad Press club on Thursday. Three MLAs of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen or MIM were among those who attacked her…The Bangladesh born writer was there for the release of the telugu version of her book Sokhe at the press club when some 30 activists first raised slogans against her for alleged anti-Muslim remarks and then got rough.

From Indian Express:

Noted Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasreen was roughed up by activists of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) at a book release function on Thursday.

From TOI:

Noted Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasreen was roughed up by activists of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) at a book release function on Thursday

From Rediff:

The police…booked a case against MIM MLAs and other activists under sections 147 and 18 (rioting with deadly weapons), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt)…

Now read these:

From NDTV:

India has been shamed again. Goons of a right wing Hindu outfit Sri Ram Sena in Mangalore barged into a pub and beat up women over the weekend

From Rediff:

Activists of a right wing Hindu outfit under the banner of Sri Ram Sena raided a pub in Mangalore, Karnataka, on Sunday and beat up four women who were present there.

From Economic Times:

Meanwhile, cracking down on hooligans, police have arrested as many as 32 of the 40 alleged hooligans, including Sene state vice president Prasad Attavar.

From Sakaal Times:

Members of a right wing Hindu group allegedly assaulted boys and girls in a Mangalore pub accusing them of behaving in an “obscene manner”, prompting police to arrest 10 of the attackers.

Long live freedom of press in India.