BJP's press note on Indian Express's factually incorrect reporting

 Press Release by Bharatiya Janata Party

A fictitious news item titled, “Nationalist are with us, lets reach out to Dalits, Backwards: PM to Party” was been published by ‘The Indian Express’ on August 24, 2016. This news report is entirely untrue, unfounded and mischievous. It seems the Newspaper has preferred fictions over facts to draw a desired conclusion. It is against the principle of Journalism and underscores the irresponsible attitude of the Newspaper. While the writers of said news item have crossed all the heights of creative writing, the Journalism practised by them has touched a new low. Despite the fact that there was an official press release about speech of Honorable PM, issued by the BJP, the Newspaper chose to close its eyes.

Contrary to this fictitious report published by ‘Indian Express’, addressing to the delegates in party core group meeting yesterday, the Prime Minister said that "we are committed to bring a change in the life of a common man and poorest of the poor". He said that "we should pay attention to insure how the government’s development-oriented schemes reach out to the bottom strata of the society". He said, "we are continuously engaged in development-oriented work, but there are some elements who don’t like it, they are trying to distract ours and the public’s attention from it but we have to make aware the common man that our sole goal is ‘National Building’".

It is important to note that the forces disturbing social harmony in the country are continuously involved in vitious propaganda with at attempt to tarnish the image of development-oriented and pro-people Modi Government. They are not able to digest the world wide popularity of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and India’s growing stature at World level. They are getting desperate as India is becoming a major economic and strategic power. The Modi government's concept of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is getting enormous support as it is leading to overall development of the country. This has forced these people to pass sleepless nights. And in this scenario, these people have only one agenda – to publish false news report to break the fabric of social harmony, divert the focus of common man from public welfare work of the government and support pseudo-opposition to Modi Government which is working hard to bring a concrete form of welfare state.

A certain group of media like Indian Express, with a certain mindset are trying contemptuously to malign the pro-people and development-oriented approach of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the NDA Government. They are following the vacuous approach of the Congress & Co and Kejriwal & Co. Indian Express has been in the dock several times in the past for its biased news reporting. Indian Express has been defaming Modi Government every now and then, and it doesn’t matter to them that they take help of a lie to defame Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the NDA Government.
Indian Express is one such newspaper which writes, “And they hanged Yakub” as if Yakub Memon was someone who was very important to India, as if he was not a terrorist but a saint working for the unity and peace.

It may be recalled that the Law Commission had reprimanded the Indian Express in August 2015 for its false reporting. The whole country is well aware of the misleading reports of the Indian Express over anti-national activities in JNU. Who can forget the case of Swatanter Kumar Vs The Indian Express. This media group had to regret publicly on many occasions for its misleading reports. Investigative journalism and creative writing is an important part of journalism, but it cannot be draped with smock of lies.

We hope that the said Newspaper will play the role of creative journalism instead of doing fictional reporting and nefarious plotting to defame the government and work like a negative opposition. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy, they need to understand this responsibility, and they cannot be allowed to play with the hope and aspirations of a common man.

Would it not be nice that the Media take a self-introspection before publishing such a false and malicious reports? Such a disgusting campaign run by an established media institution is extremely unfortunate and it raises serious questions over their journalistic principles. For publishing such a false statement, the ‘Indian Express’ group have to make a public apology immediately.

(Mahender Pandey)
Office Secretary