Opinion News TV’s CWG Motto

Sixty-odd years after Independence,this is what the country has come to. At the heart of the national capital,news TV waves a document at an official’s face,and the official waves a copy of that same document right back. Doesn’t he know? The ‘AM scam’ has been exposed,and everyone must resign! Maybe even the PM. Three CWG officials have been suspended. Hah! Don’t give us that. And don’t give us explanations either. Admit it! Admit it now,on Times Now,and make every hour the Newshour.

So,I am one of those contemptible chaps who doesn’t care about corruption,am I? Nope. I merely argue that allegations of corruption and a sense of proportion are not mortal enemies of each other in public/media discourse. Let me explain this in the context of the Times Now story. The CWG official basically said one point a million times — his responsibility did not involve ground-level checks on contracted parties,those responsible for that,who now stand suspended,were trusted to do the right thing. Is that adequate? Let’s assume it isn’t. But where does the journalism of asking 10 million times ‘Will you admit you were also guilty right at this moment?’ take you? He won’t admit. You obviously don’t have the silver bullet. So,ask your question a couple of times,let him go and say your piece to camera. P-to-Cs are the most vibrant demonstrations we have that India is a free country. You can say almost anything; almost anything is frequently said.

Also: sometimes ask when planning the news budget whether every story on corruption is automatically a national calamity. Let me make a bold prediction here: I think the country can survive the ‘AM scam’.

And now: Breaking News! Exclusively on this column! I saw a news TV chat that (a) picked a non-CWG topic (b) picked a foreign news story and the choice was smart and (c) was quite soberly,coolly conducted,with a panel whose members said some thoughtful things and were given time to think and (d) actually allowed you to take something away from the discussion.

I refer to NDTV’s chat on the controversy in New York over plans to build a mosque near the 9/11 site. This is a fascinating story. How nice it was therefore to hear two interesting counterpoints to my view. My view is the standard liberal one: zoning and planning laws permitting,the right to build a religious structure cannot be questioned in a liberal democracy.

One panelist,clearly a liberal,said it is not inappropriate to ask whether religious groups shouldn’t also factor in the question of ‘tastefulness’. Another panelist,a Muslim filmmaker,said maybe moderate Muslim groups should choose not to fight certain battles,even if they are right,because the gains in the long term are more. The anchor asked,very relevantly,whether the phrase ‘moderate Muslim’ doesn’t raise complex questions about the process of testing for moderateness.

True,it was a bit puzzling when the anchor said the issue raises philosophical as well as metaphorical questions. Metaphorical?! Even ‘philosophical’ is a bit OTT. But,hey,I will take those bits of OTT-ness any evening for a news TV chat that actually said something.

However,worryingly,as we go to print,no more CWG officials have resigned. More stories on Can’t Won’t Go (CWG) officials! Ah well,let’s be philosophical. And here’s,as we journalists say,a quote from a great philosopher,adjusted to capture the very essence of CWG official-hunting TV journalist: Story’s AM,therefore I am.

saubhik.chakrabarti@expressindia.com