There seems to be a conspiracy of silence on this….maybe the feeling is that people don’t want to see or read this in the news.

Just look at the reactions on MSM like rediff and you will be as sickened as I was when i saw the Tehelka tapes and read the transcripts…..

Unless some – if not all perpetrators face justice and go to jail …. this is just going to be another ‘yesterday’s news’

Here a thing: If those riots were prevented, how many of us would be complaining that Modi didn’t do anything about it and how we Hindus are being held hostages in our own country :D

What a mind-numbingly retarded statement! So, are you justifying the murder of Indian citizens because of a misplaced sense of justice? Do you really not comprehend the difference between bringing the perpetrators of Godhra to justice and murdering citizens because of their religious preferences?

Admittedly, the people’s opinions post-report haven’t changed and perhaps because the report merely offered detailed proof regarding events that most knew already to be true. The support on either sides is ideological and I don’t see it changing even if we see a photo of Modi eating puppies. His supporters will find a way to justify that.

Supremus, we certainly beg to differ on this. Trust me, I believed in exactly what you are saying not so long ago. I will admit even believing and saying what you mentioned – “Hindus are being held hostages in our own country.” But this cannot be a sane and rational line of thinking otherwise it simply begets more bloodshed and thirst for revenge. Modi’s characterization in the media wasn’t pre-determined but came about only post-2002, right? It may have been overblown as you claim, but then it can also be true and vastly underreported.

If your solution is to silence everyone in fear of communal tension then we can never see or listen to anything. We as a nation have a reputation of getting easily offended and violence is considered justifiable for those hurt sentiments. When the government begins punishing acts of violence to the fullest extent of the law (yeah right! I know), you’ll see less sentiments being offended.

You admit Modi is dictatorial but you still would go with him. This might be because he is not any harm to ‘your kind’…yet. Ultimately, it isn’t ideology or anything deep that directs action of such people but it is simply need for power. If your ‘kind’ is expendable and in the way, you would taken care of too. At the end, it is a matter of principle if we really want such people to represent our interests.

–And if such reports are telecast and there is communal violence in Abad, Baroda and other places, would we then start the blaming that they didn’t take pro-active steps to curb the violence by not showing such sensitive stuff in the first place? Think about it.

I lived a better part of my life in Gujarat, and it is always surprising to read that most of these opinions about Modi (esp Anti-Modi) seem to stem out of ppl who have never lived in Gujarat, but form an opinion out of the media. As far as matter of blocking such news reports in Gujarat goes, I think it was an EXCELLENT decision by Modi to do so. Doing otherwise would have been a sure shot bloddy communal carnage in Abad and other places. (

What most people don’t get or understand is communal violence in Gujarat has always been a political pawn. By blocking the channel, Modi has effectively blocked any attempts by Congress and their cronies to start a hindu-muslim riot and then spoil Gujarat’s name.

Things are hardly, heck, even remotely as bad as news channels make it sound for Gujarat. Its probably one of the safest places in India in my opinion, and I have lived in way too many cities.

Coming to Tehelka, when did they start being taken seriously?

Some of Modi’s policies I agree borderline dictatorial, but I would vote for him any day to be the CM of Gujarat again – heck, if he were to stand for PM, I would vote for him. He’s fearless, and he does his work without caring for much around him. Its not without a reason he keeps getting re-elected again and again, and maintains a image within the gujarati elitists :)

Here a thing: If those riots were prevented, how many of us would be complaining that Modi didn’t do anything about it and how we Hindus are being held hostages in our own country :D – think abt it. Don’t we say that to our PM who has done zilch to capture anybody responsible for the Delhi blasts, Hyderabad blasts and numerous others?

Sorry, had to put my 0.02$ – I am really getting tired of this Anti-Modi rant, 95% of which is completely based on news media.

S

I was beginning to lose hope in the investigative abilities of the Indian media given their proclivities for frivolous news and penchant for taking credit where none is due. Now it is up to the people to consider the investigative reports and take action.

Patrix,

I’m not sure whether the Tehelka way is the way to go as far as “investigative” journalism goes. If I read the post-sting situation correctly; the pro-Modi people are just as pro-Modi, and the anti-Modi people are just as anti. Not sure if this is going to swing public opinion any more than it already did/has.

It’s not as if investigative journalism didn’t exist before Tejpal & Co came along with their spycams. The most impactful cases, to this day, are Chitra Subramaniam on Bofors and Arun Shourie’s during his Indian Express days.