Mail Bag
Time for restraint
Apropos “Surviving the siege” and other related articles (Magazine December 7), the government, the police, the intelligence agencies have failed in preventing the terrorist strikes in India. But we do not need knee-jerk responses to deal with the menace of terrorism. Rather, a visionary leadership and corruption-free administration to strengthen our security, revamp the police, bolster intelligence and coordinate the efforts various agencies to herald a counter-terrorism operation with strong political willpower and imagination to save the ordinary citizens of India. The electronic media too must show restraint by not sensationalising the news and should be careful in their coverage. They need training in this regard
Akhil Kumar,
Delhi
“Do We deserve this?”(December 7), shows how the round-the-clock, live coverage of the terror strikes by news channels has crossed the line of serious journalism into sheer sensationalism. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry asked news channels to exercise restraint but it was in vain. This entire episode underscores the urgent need for broadcast content codes that go beyond the self-regulation that exists at present and are violated with impunity. It is an appropriate time to make the channels behave in a responsible manner at times of national crises.
Amiya Krishna Pandey
Ghaziabad
Sevanti Ninan is perfectly right in saying that there must be enforceable regulatory guidelines that ensure that the media (especially the private satellite TV channels) is an asset and not a menace in times of national stress. Unfortunately, today’s satellite TV channels think that terror reporting is the same as crime reporting! Satellite TV channels should know that terror reporting is similar to reporting from a war front. Keeping the audio and visuals of gun shots, fumes and smoke and windows burning in the background and doing “free for all” guesswork is not at all professional reporting.
B.R. Kumar,
Former Deputy Director-General, Akashvani & Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati, South Zone,
Chennai
It was unfortunate that the media, particularly the electronic ones, indulged in sensationalism, trivialisation and editorialising in their coverage of the Mumbai attacks. It was agonising to see them go overboard while covering this unfortunate massacre. We are still not spared, as ridiculous and gimmicky stories continue to be circulated in the name of follow-up. It’s time the government took some tough decisions regarding media regulation.
Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui
Bengaluru
Unbiased, unhasty and focused on a permanent solution, Tabish Khair’s “Silver Linings” has a unifying effect. The author has achieved this by bringing to light the reactions of the government, non-Muslim groups, secular Muslims, religious and semi-religious Muslims who condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The relevant portions from the holy Qur’an were quoted to emphasis the point that the terrorists are ignorant criminals. The need of the hour is to maintain this unity at any cost and there should not be any attempt to gain political mileage from this tragic event.
P.U. Krishnan
Ooty
It is not enough to merely condemn the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai. Terrorists are bent on destroying the rhythm of people’s lives. Their aim is to instil fear in people’s minds and disturb communal harmony. From the death and suffering of innocent people, and the fire-fighters and police who went to help them, the world needs to learn the lesson that terrorism solves no problems, and that it needs concerted effort by all nations to stamp it out.
It is also time to think whether the underlying reason for the increase in terrorism is economic and cultural, triggered by changes in international economic functioning to which some sections of the society are unable or unwilling to adapt. Whether at an individual level or a national level, no amount of physical protection or technical sophistication can be a protection against terrorist attacks. India must revamp its policy and approach to terrorists. Far too long, despite the killing of several people in the terror attacks in major cities, we have not formulated a pro-active policy. We must stand united in this hour of crisis. The government, on its part, should enact tougher laws instead of dealing with terrorism in a reactionary manner.
Dr.T. Marx
Department of English, Pondicherry University, Puducherry
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