Alleging that the ‘right to speak’ and ‘write the truth’ stand threatened in the country, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Tuesday said that a section of the media has “surrendered before power”, accusing it of fanning hate speech and running agenda-driven stories. Speaking at an event organised by the Lokmat Group where a number of MPs were awarded for their performance in Parliament, Kharge said it was “hurtful” to see statements made inside Parliament being expunged from the records of the House. “One section of the media is fighting to safeguard its independence while another section has surrendered before power. There is a threat to the right to speak and write truth. Paid news, fake news, TRP scam, and partisanship have somewhat sullied the image of the media,” Kharge said. “In parliamentary democracy, the MPs and media have the right to ask questions but when statements made in the the House are expunged from the proceedings then it causes hurt,” Kharge said, alluding to the removal of Rahul Gandhi's remarks on the Adani Group's alleged links with the ruling establishment from the Lok Sabha proceedings. Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, ahead of the award ceremony, speaking at a conclave organised by the Lokmat Group, I& B Minister Anurag Thakur attacked Rahul, charging him with “insulting” India on foreign soil. “Rahul Gandhi should apologise to Parliament.also where is Rahul Gandhi when Parliament is in session?” Thakur said. Speaking during another session, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir amounted to “murder of democracy”. Singh also said that he stands by his remarks on the 2019 surgical strike despite the Congress leadership distancing itself from it.
