N Ram, known for peddling lies during the alleged Rafale scam when his publication The Hindu published cropped and incomplete pictures of documents on the Rafale deal during the run-up to the 2019 general elections.
In an interview with BBC’s HARDTalk, Ram portrays a picture of a “stifled” media, passionately critiques the alleged decline of press freedom under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he conveniently overlooks his own publication’s history of biased reporting, selective narratives, and politically motivated journalism. Let’s dissect how Ram has been maintaining his one-sided leftist point of view all along that was exposed in this interview.
N Ram’s Hypocrisy on Press Freedom
N Ram lamented the decline of press freedom under Modi, but he conveniently ignored the fact that The Hindu, the publication he leads, has also been accused of bias and selective reporting. The Hindu is often criticized for its left-leaning editorial stance, which many argued was no less partisan than the so-called “Godi media” he now condemns.
Like a true DMK stooge, he praised TN media for being “credible”. He said, “There are still some exceptions. In the Indian languages, in Tamil Nadu, for example, where I come from, there are some perfectly credible television news channels, and maybe in West Bengal and other places as well.”
If Ram is so concerned about press freedom, why didn’t he speak out as forcefully when media houses were accused of bias during the Congress era? His selective outrage reeks of political vendetta rather than genuine concern for journalism.
Praising Alleged Journalist Rana Ayyub
Ram’s effusive praise for Rana Ayyub is telling. Ayyub has been peddling half-truths and sensationalism in her reporting. Her work on the 2002 Gujarat riots has been rubbished by the courts and relies on unverified sources. Responding to Sackur’s question on Ayyub, Ram said, “Rana Ayyub is the bravest woman around the woman journalist I know, and she goes on, I got a message from yesterday that a new case, a first information report, has been ordered by a court against her writings. And she faces that threat, and yet she goes on showing that people like that can if you stand up. I think that’s the way to fight this this assault and there’s a repression. And she’s, I think, an extraordinary case. Fortunately, she’s able to write for The Washington Post and some other publications abroad. She’s respected, and I think people, we need people like that, and there are some others as well.”
By holding her up as a paragon of journalism, Ram reveals his own bias. Is he defending journalism, or is he defending a specific narrative that aligns with his ideological leanings?
The Pegasus Spyware Allegations: All Smoke, No Fire
Ram raised the Pegasus issue but admitted there’s no concrete proof that the Indian government used it to surveil journalists. This is a classic case of making sensational claims without evidence. When asked for proof, he says, “The proof is, I think there have been stories. This is the NSO group’s military great spyware, Pegasus, and I’m a petitioner in the Supreme Court of India. In fact, in the court, the government refused to confirm or deny that, had it acquired this spyware and so on, and it just and it just refused. The court could have compelled it, and we were disappointed it didn’t, but it set up a committee which then reported on it. It’s kept in a sealed cover.” When pressed again for proof, Ram said, “There’s a strong suspicion, and there and other countries have investigated it. The New York Times did a story on this, pretty much indicating that this had been used. They’ve been, The Wire did investigations on this.”
If Ram is so sure about the government’s misuse of spyware, why hasn’t he produced any hard evidence? Instead, he hides behind vague suspicions and stories published in leftist rags like Washington Post and The Wire! This is not journalism; it’s fearmongering.
The “Godi Media” Smear
Ram’s use of the term “Godi media” (lapdog media) is a cheap shot aimed at discrediting media outlets that don’t align with his worldview. But what about the media houses that are openly critical of the government? Are they also “Godi media”? Or does the label only apply to those who don’t toe the leftist line? Ram’s hypocrisy is glaring. He fails to acknowledge that media bias exists on all sides, not just among those who support the government.
Ignoring the Role of Social Media
Ram praised ‘independent voices’ like Ravish Kumar and Dhruv Rathee, who have found success by peddling lies on YouTube. When questioned that these “voices” have millions of subscribers and nobody seems to be stopping them, Ram, flustered, replies, “They are trying to stop that. They’re struggling to see what can be done there. The new broadcast services bill was introduced there was opposition, so it’s been referred to a committee because the government has no majority, and maybe some of its allies have problems or qualms about it.”
Sackur calls India a noisy democracy and that voices like Ravish Kumar aren’t successfully stifled. Ram replies, “I fully agree with this, and I’d add Dhruv Rathee, who’s not a journalist, he was a sort of an educator on YouTube, and he then put out a frame, something that went viral, called, Is India a democracy? And then he had a sequel, and I believe, 50 million views.”
Ram has conveniently ignored the fact that these same voices on YouTube have been peddling misinformation and propaganda like him, is that why he endorsed them? If Ram is so concerned about disinformation, why doesn’t he call out the lies and half-truths spread by his ideological allies?
The Myth of Modi’s Authoritarianism
Ram accused Modi of incremental authoritarianism, but he provided no concrete examples of how this has stifled democracy. India remains a vibrant democracy with a free press, as evidenced by the fact that critics like Ram can freely express their views on international platforms like the BBC. If Modi were truly authoritarian, would Ram even be allowed to speak so openly? The reality is that India’s media landscape is more diverse and pluralistic than ever, and Ram’s doomsday predictions ring hollow.
Selective Amnesia on Congress Era
Ram’s criticism of the Modi government is rich, considering his silence during the Congress era. The Emergency of 1975-77, imposed by Indira Gandhi, was one of the darkest periods for Indian democracy and press freedom. Yet, Ram has been conspicuously quiet about the Congress’s authoritarian tendencies. His selective outrage suggests that his problem isn’t with authoritarianism per se, but with Modi specifically.
The Elite Media Bubble
Ram represents the old guard of Indian journalism—a privileged elite that has long dominated the media landscape. His criticism of Modi’s direct connection with voters through platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) reeks of elitism. Ram seems to resent the fact that Modi has bypassed traditional media gatekeepers like him to communicate directly with the masses. It is not clear whether Ram’s real issue with press freedom or is it with losing his own relevance in the digital age.
The Disinformation Double Standard
Ram accused the BJP of being the primary source of disinformation, but he conveniently ignored the role of opposition parties and left-leaning media in spreading false narratives. From fake news about farm laws to exaggerated claims about communal violence, the opposition has been just as guilty of disinformation. Ram’s one-sided criticism exposes his partisan agenda.
It is an open secret that N Ram has nothing but contempt for the BJP and hatred for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he has still not come to terms that the Rafale fighter deal was legitimate and continues to peddle the lie.
This HARDTalk interview is a masterclass in selective outrage, hypocrisy, and ideological bias. While he poses as a defender of press freedom, his arguments are riddled with contradictions, unverified claims, and partisan smears. If Ram truly cares about journalism, he should start by holding himself and his ideological allies to the same standards he demands of others. Until then, his criticisms of the Modi government and the Indian media landscape will remain nothing more than the rantings of a disgruntled leftist clinging to a bygone era.
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