Psephology, which is used for these exit polls, is a branch
of political science which deals with the study and scientific analysis of
elections. Therefore, there is a systematic approach and it should be relied
with a statistical margin of error. The
reason to raise question is not about doubting the science of psephology or any efforts to recall failed and
misleading projections of past, but it is about the ethical functioning of
fourth estate of democracy – Press.
If you read the newspapers of Gujarat published till 17th December, it looked as if
Modi’s defeat is certain. Keshubhai will emerge as kingmaker and after 22 years some Congress leader will head
the state government once again. The exit poll projections do not confirm any
of these. Such a radical shift highlights two facts – press is not neutral and
does not represent the factual reporting
and second, there was a mass level of paid news publication.
A PTI news has quoted Chief
Election Commissioner VS Sampath saying,
"While 444 suspected cases of paid news were reported in Gujarat, notices
were sent to 224 of them. In Himachal Pradesh polls, the Commission came across
211 suspected cases of paid news and notices were sent in 190 cases and 91
confirmed cases were reported,"
The election authorities in Gujarat have identified 126 confirmed cases of paid
news during the just-concluded polls, with 61 candidates admitting of have paid
for such news in electronic and print media. Election commission will take some actions in
case of the confirmed cases like adding these payments to the expenditures of the candidates.
The extreme punishment can be disqualification of the
candidate like EC gave to Umesh Yadav, MLA from Bisauli assembly constituency,
after finding him guilty of getting news published in his favour during 2007 UP
polls by paying hefty amount to media outlets.
This punishment was announced on October 20, 2011 when the term was almost over. (fresh
election were held in UP from Jan to March 2012). Media which carried these paid
news escaped the punishment.
A fact- finding team of the Press Council of India has also
confirmed about large scale practice of
'paid news' in the Gujarat elections. PCI chairperson Justice Markandey Katju has
accepted that that self regulation by media was proving to be ineffective.
Press is not self regulated to remain honest, but is getting
infected by the virus of “easy money” like government servants. Majority of small papers published in local
language are involved in money extortion business. Their staff approaches for “monetary favour” and threatens otherwise to tarnish your
image. The tone of black mailing can be sensed from the communication. All the industries who have to carry out
public hearing in Gujarat undergo through this experience.
Mr Katju refers to the “freedom of press”, but the time has come
when we should think of making it
a healthy press by cleaning these malpractices from media. Such tactics spoil core culture of the country as society look
towards press as “just and honest”. While
EC takes action against erring
candidates, PCI should take equally
strong action against these publication and broadcasting channels. Unless that
is done the fourth estate of democracy will continue to decay.
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