Paid media attempts to cover up Modi’s speech at Davos

[LordOfMud]

Indian media’s attempts to cover up the faux pas in PM Modi’s speech at Davos

Modi made a faux pas while addressing the plenary session of the World Economic Forum at Davos. He wanted to inform his international audience about the number of people who voted his government to power and got the number wildly wrong. “In 2014, after 30 years, the 600 crore voters in India provided complete majority to any political party to form government at the Center.” While bragging about his historic mandate, Mr. Prime Minister dropped the 600 crore (6 billion) number out of the blue. India’s population is 130 crore (1.3 billion) and the number of voters who voted his party to power is only a fraction of this number. Is not a small error, but Indian media’s surprising reaction to it.

When India was ranked a lowly 136 in the 2017 Press Freedom Index, one of the reasons stated for it was the growing self-censorship in mainstream media. Here we see an example of media shying away even from reporting a statement from the Prime Minister’s speech because it contained an inadvertent error. PM Modi made an error that was televised the world over and is available as a video recording. Yet some sections of the media are purging all reference to it and others including a leading national news agency are bending backwards to cover-up the error. A simple faux pas has exposed Indian media’s fear of criticizing the government or portraying it in a negative light.

[LordOfMud]

[LordOfMud]

[LordOfMud]

[LordOfMud]

Those who didn’t….

There were others like Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald, DNA and Republic who stood their ground. The PM’s statement was reported the way it was made and no attempt was made to delete or cover-up after realizing that the PM had made an error.

In 2014 after 30 years, the 600 crore Indians provided complete majority to any political party to form govt at the centre. We took the resolution for the development of everyone and not just a specific group. Our motto is 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'.: PM Modi #WorldEconomicForum pic.twitter.com/9qCjvRX1X7

— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) January 23, 2018

"In 2014 after 30 years, the 600 crore Indians provided a complete majority to any political party to form govt at the centre. We took the resolution for the development of everyone and not just a specific group. Our motto is 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'.": Modi addressing #Davos.

— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) January 23, 2018

In 2014 after 30 years, the 600 crore Indians provided a complete majority to any political party to form govt at the centre. We took the resolution for the development of everyone and not just a specific group. Our motto is 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas': #PMModiAtDavos

— Republic (@republic) January 23, 2018

[Bhai]

neeku pakodi lu dorikinattu levu 

 

https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/955306665422786561

[LordOfMud]

56 minutes ago, Bhai said:

neeku pakodi lu dorikinattu levu 

 

https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/955306665422786561

eppudu adi paachi poiena pakodi 

[Bhai]

1 hour ago, LordOfMud said:

eppudu adi paachi poiena pakodi 

  inni dinal yaada dkellav??

[jbourne]

modi gadu nenu pedda thopu ani edo feel avtundu, suicide chesukoni sachipothademo 2019 lo full majority rakapotey.