Media
Investigative Journalism platform Cobrapost exposes Indian Media Houses’ willingness to promote Hindutva for money
Investigative platform Cobrapost on Monday said it had exposed several Indian media houses whose representatives allegedly showed willingness to peddle the Hindutva ideology and malign many senior Opposition leaders and Union Ministers in lieu of proceeds ranging from ₹6 crore to ₹50 crore.
‘Operation 136’, as the investigation is called, carried out several undercover operations through hidden camera, establishing that media publications in India “agreed to publish content with a potential to polarise the electorate along communal lines.”
As the operation revealed, media houses were also ready to plant stories against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Union Ministers and the ruling party’s alliance partners, framing political conspiracies and reports of in-infighting, for the right price.
Posing as a representative of a fictitious organisation Shrimad Bhagvad Gita Prachar Samiti, journalist Pushp Sharma told the media representatives that he was on a mission, a gupt vyavastha (secret arrangement), at the behest of the “Sangathan” to bolster the prospects of the party in power in coming elections.
In this investigation, journalist Pushp Sharma met owners or personnel of more than 3 dozen media houses, many marquee names, who are in decision-making positions. #Cobrapost, #Operation136
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) March 26, 2018
Cobrapost has released excerpts of interactions that Sharma had with India TV, Dainik Jagran, Hindi Khabar, SAB TV, DNA (Daily News and Analysis), Amar Ujala, UNI, 9X Tashan, Samachar Plus, HNN 24*7, Punjab Kesari, Swatantra Bharat, ScoopWhoop, Rediff.com, IndiaWatch, Aj and Sadhna Prime News in the first part of the expose.
Watch the full video here:
Character assassination of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati by saying pappu, bua and babua was also included in this agenda #Cobrapost, #Operation136
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) March 26, 2018
Multiple employees of Amamr Ujala daily newspaper agree to run content to promote Hindutva before 2019 elections #cobrapostExpose #operation136https://t.co/POdSfoEhqA
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) March 26, 2018
UNI`s Lucknow bureau head Narendra Srivastava says Uma Bharati knows him well. He will plug stories into one of the largest news wires in the country. #cobrapostExpose #operation136 #operation136,@UNI
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) March 26, 2018
When reporter asked about the payment, both the sales official of India TV suggested to give half of the billing amount before as their financial year close in March. #Cobrapost, #Operation136
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) March 26, 2018