An appeal to Muslim leaders not to bite the bait of TV debates

Abhay Kumar DEBATES and discussions though are vital to a democracy, are worth the while only when conducted in a free and fair atmosphere. If people from different belief systems discuss issues with an open mind, there is a good chance to dispel the misunderstandings and prejudices prevailing among them. But if the debates and discussions turn out to be bait to trap some; if their motive is to create a communal frenzy; if their single-point agenda is to despise a particular religious community and its faith, it is advisable to keep a safe distance from these.
Against this backdrop, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), on June 10, has made an earnest appeal to religious scholars (ulama) and Muslim intellectuals against participating in those TV channel debates whose “only purpose is to insult and make a mockery of Islam and Muslims”. All the right thinking and law abiding citizens of the country should welcome the appeal.
Journalists in today’s world A good journalist is always supposed to honour socio-cultural sensibilities of every religious, regional and linguistic group. He/she should present all shades of the opinion sincerely, without bias. When it comes to taking sides, he/she should stand with the underdog, not the rich and the mighty. But what is being passed off as journalism today is in a complete contrast to the ethical journalism we have been taught in our class.
I feel ashamed to see that most of the journalists today have reduced themselves to the status of subservience to the powers that be. They are sycophants of their employers and subservient to the ruling elite. Instead of following the constitutional ideals of secularism, they have opted to serve the cause of rabidly communal and Islamophobic vested interest groups.
The situation of the Hindi media, particularly the mainstream Hindi channels, is still worse off. Hindi TV channels neither have an inclination to follow the basic ethics of journalism, nor do they have any respect for the constitution.
The demarcation line between the market and the editorial has blurred for most of the mainstream media platforms today. The conscience of reporters has been almost sacrificed for petty pecuniary gains. The anchor has become the focal point around which the entire media house revolves. Every anchor, irrespective of the level of knowledge of the field and the book he/she possesses, tries to dabble in every issue under the sun. The anchor considers him/herself no less than a “superstar” in popularity, and no less than a “dictator” in authority during the TV debates.