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Journalism of Courage
It seems as if the UPA strategists were struck with paralysis only after the allegations in the media against Pratibha Patil. A panicky UPA could, in the past week, only resort to meetings of the media committee, the strategy committee and the core group. But this had not been the case before the deluge of accusations about impropriety.
The Congress media department scored a grand coup when it ambushed Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje8217;s meeting with Patil on June 16 and made sure that all the newspapers carried the photograph of Raje holding the hands of the presidential nominee. The Congress scored another point with its counter-coup on Bhairon Singh Shekhawat meeting Pratibha at the Rajasthan Bhavan. The party spin doctors made sure no photographers had access to the meeting and no pictures appeared in print the following day. Last week, facing a torrent of allegations, a minister suggested to Sonia that the Congress should forcefully respond to the charges. It was then decided that the UPA8217;s response would come after July 1. We are waiting.
