The Mumbai Press Club expressed concern over remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, during a recent rally in Amaravati, Maharashtra, where he described journalists as the “slaves” of their media owners.
The statement stated, “At an election rally in Amaravati, Maharashtra, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made sweeping remarks about working journalists, accusing them of being beholden to the ruling regime and labelling them as ‘slaves of their owners’. While cloaked in concern for the plight of journalists, his comments carried a tone of condescension that warrants closer scrutiny.”
Press Club Urges Gandhi To Tackle Structural Issues In Media
The Press Club urged Gandhi to look at the broader structural issues within the media industry that have contributed to the vulnerability of journalists.
“Has Mr Gandhi ever reflected on the root causes of the challenges faced by working journalists in India and the state of journalism as a whole? The precarious conditions of journalists today stem largely from rampant contractualisation, driven in part by the neo-liberal policies introduced by the Congress-led government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Until then, journalists had fought for and secured significant rights, including unionization and better working conditions. Contractualisation, however, allowed monopoly media houses to sack journalists at will, weakening unions and leaving journalists vulnerable. If Gandhi truly wishes to address the plight of journalists, perhaps he should redirect his critique toward the media owners and the structural issues within the industry. The ever-present threat of dismissal, combined with an oversupply of unemployed and underemployed journalists, makes it unrealistic to expect working journalists to rebel against the system at great personal risk.”
Additionally, the club recognized the difficulties that journalists are currently facing.
“While we acknowledge the immense challenges posed by the current government’s authoritarian tendencies toward the media, it is equally concerning to witness Gandhi’s repeated targeting of journalists. His rhetoric raises legitimate concerns about how his party might approach the press if it were to return to power. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi is rightly criticized for avoiding open press conferences, Gandhi’s recurrent mockery and derision of journalists also deserve rebuke.”
Press Club Slams Opposition Leader’s ‘High-Handed’ Approach To Journalists
The Mumbai Press Club however affirmed its unwavering stance against the violation of journalists’ rights, regardless of whether the perpetrators are ruling parties, media owners, or other influential forces.
The statement further added, “We, therefore, view the high-handed approach of the Leader of Opposition toward working journalists as a matter of serious concern. Constructive dialogue and accountability, not dismissive remarks, are what the media – and democracy – deserve.”
Earlier on 16 November, speaking at a public meeting, Rahul Gandhi stated, “For over a year, I have been advocating for constitutional reforms, caste-based census, and breaking the 50 per cent reservation ceiling. Despite raising these issues in Parliament, Modi claims I am against reservation. Either he has memory loss, or he chooses to ignore the facts. The media also refuses to show this reality because they are under their owners’ control.”
“Journalists need salaries to educate their children and fill their stomachs. To ensure this, they are forced to obey their bosses. In a way, they are slaves. I like them, but their circumstances bind them. This is why I don’t pick a fight with them. They will never show what we do or say, but they will run propaganda 24×7,” he further asserted.
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