News Analysis |
Indian media held “late” Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi responsible for the tragic Pulwama attack. According to Indian media, Mr. Rasheed is a close associate of Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a banned militant outfit, and one of his most trusted commanders. Moreover, Indian media reports also claimed that Rasheed commands all Jaish operations in India and is believed to be hiding in south Kashmir.
Abdul Rasheed Ghazi was killed in 2007 when then-president Pervez Musharraf launched operation Lal Masjid. It is important to mention here that on February 14, a suicide car bomber rammed a bus carrying troopers belonging to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the deadliest attack on Indian occupying forces there since 2002. Just after the attack, Indian media started bashing at Pakistan and blamed the state agencies for helping in planting and carrying out the attack.
Indian media reports also claimed that Rasheed commands all Jaish operations in India and is believed to be hiding in south Kashmir.
Pakistan’s foreign office rejected ‘baseless allegations’ and asked Indian authorities for evidence for their accusations. According to Reuters’ report, Adil Ahmad Dar, 20, from the village of Lethipora in occupied Kashmir rammed a car full of explosives into the convoy. The father of Adil, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Dar said that his son had been radicalized after police stopped him and his friends on the way home from school in 2016.
“They were stopped by the [Indian] troops and beaten up and harassed,” Mr. Dar said, adding that the students were accused of stone-pelting. “Since then, he [Adil] wanted to join the militants.” Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen Mazari reacted to misreporting of Indian media and wrote on Twitter, saying: “Indian media really needs to do some fact checking even when they are indulging in blame game propaganda.”
Read more: Indian media cries foul: Pakistan expresses concern over Pulwama Attack
Indian media really needs to do some fact checking even when they are indulging in blame game propaganda. This man lies buried in Roshan, distt Rajanpur since over a decade! pic.twitter.com/SUjgiZth6t
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 17, 2019
General Elections in India: BJP with Empty Hands
It is important to note that Indian is going to hold the general elections in the next month. The ruling party is lacking to offer anything substantial to the voters to ensure the electoral win. Experts argue that high inflation, the polarization of Indian society, prevailing economic backwardness and devastating conditions of the lower middle class are the same as they were before the general elections of 2019. The BJP came up with a populist agenda of reform and ‘acche din’ but at the end of the tenure, the BJP is with empty hands to contest the election.
Just after the attack, Indian media started bashing at Pakistan and blamed the state agencies for helping in planting and carrying out the attack.
Therefore, the ruling party in India is resorting to the anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim card to divert the attention of people from real issues and seek maximum political support. The BJP is allegedly focusing on setting a new political agenda to counter secular Congress in the country. Political observers maintain that the attack on the soldiers did not benefit anyone except the ruling party in India.
Read more: Pulwama Attack: Another Indian “False Flag” to frame Pakistan
Kashmiri Youth is Upright
It is equally important to understand that many politicians and observers in India believe that the attack was a response to increased Indian oppression in Kashmir. “The youth in Kashmir is fed up of everything. We need to understand. Our policy of force and oppression is no longer helpful. The ongoing conflict demands a political dialogue,” said a Kashmir-based politician.
Disappointing role of Indian Media
The role of Indian media has been disappointing for many people across the world. Media which is considered independent and powerful in India relied only on the official version of the incident and did not question any contradictory statements. Prominent Pakistani journalist Fahd Husain regretted on the same and tweeted “We in Pakistani media have our own challenges and we accept them. But we have always displayed a healthy dose of scepticism towards official narratives, often to our detriment. Perhaps now is the best time for the Indian media to do the same. Try being sceptical – for once.”
Read more: Pulwama Attack: Modi’s master plan before the upcoming election?
(7/7) We in Pakistani media have our own challenges and we accept them. But we have always displayed a healthy dose of scepticism towards official narratives, often to our detriment. Perhaps now is the best time for the Indian media to do the same. Try being sceptical – for once.
— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) February 17, 2019
He also advised Indian journalists, “My humble advice to Indian media colleagues is to substitute anger with prudence, emotion with rationale, bull-headedness with clear-headedness & spirit of revenge with the spirit of enquiry. This is what you get paid to do. This is what you owe your readers & viewers”
(6/7) My humble advice to Indian media colleagues is to substitute anger with prudence, emotion with rationale, bull-headedness with clear-headedness & spirit of revenge with spirit of enquiry. This is what you get paid to do. This is what you owe your readers & viewers
— Fahd Husain (@Fahdhusain) February 17, 2019
Fahd hopes that in future Indian media will release the grave mistakes it is committing at the moment.