Anna v/s Irom: Media insensitivity in focus

Sometimes comparison becomes necessary to put things into perspective, otherwise, they may appear to be misplaced. It perplexes me how the same media that gave so much coverage to Anna Hazare’s agitation at Jantar-Mantar does not give two hoots about a woman in Manipur who is sitting on fast-unto-death against human rights’ violations for the last eleven years. She is Irom Sharmila, the Iron Lady of Manipur who is fighting for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur and Northeast.

If we compare the two agitations, while Anna’s quest was for a law that would rein corruption, Irom’s quest was to abolish a law that is being used as a shield to dishonour women in her state. So why is her quest not being registered in Delhi? Why has the issue not been raised by the media? Is it because it is from a place which is far away from the national capital? Or is it because it is too neglected in collective national conscience? Being far away from the capital can be a consideration for the politicians, but for media it is hardly a barrier. Media provides moral strength to the society, and it does so without any consideration, as to how an administration or regime may take it. It is the duty of media to take up people’s cause. It should not matter where it may be coming from. But by media’s current attitude, it appears as if Delhi, in all, constitutes India.

Media played the pivotal role in Hazare’s agitation. Even he has admitted this. I can say that this role has at least partially washed off the black spot that media had acquired during the ‘paid news’ saga. That it introspected and returned to its moral roots, was welcomed by the society. It was a healthy attempt that helped democracy move a step ahead towards meaningfulness. Still, a very miniscule number of media houses brazenly towed the government’s line. On the other hand, media used misnomers to exaggerate Hazare’s quest. Some termed it a fast-unto-death, which it never was. A fast-unto-death is something Irom has taken up. It is the strength that she draws from her vow that does not let her waver, even when the  government has attempted to foil every move.

It does not surprise me if the government shows apathy to the cause. But if the Prime Minister does not deliver to his personal promise, the game changes. In 2004, a women named Manorama was arrested by armed forces. It was alleged that she had relations with the separatists. She died during interrogation and it was alleged that armed forces had killed her. It led to a popular uprising. It was so intense that PM Manmohan Singh had to go to Manipur to handle it. He promised that the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) would be reviewed. This Act for the people of Manipur is what Rowlatt Act was to pre-Independence India. The law empowers armed forces to search, arrest or impound the property of a person on mere suspicion. It also empowers them to shoot anybody whom they suspect of being a militant. Scores of men are killed and women violated. This has led to many uprisings.

The culture of Manipur is that of self-sacrifice. And Irom is the representative of the very tradition. Her agitation had forced the PM to pay attention, who kept his promise only partially. He made Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy review the AFSPA Act which was submitted by him way back in 2005. Now the government is sitting on the report for years. The members of review committee headed by Reddy clearly  recommend dissolution of the AFSPA Act giving merit to the allegations of the people of Manipur. This Act has been abused and will be done so in the future too. There are numerous instances to prove it, however this is not the right place to do so. Why isn’t the media listening to Irom? Both Hazare and Irom are fighting to make this democracy more viable. Then why this duality by media?

One can argue that Irom’s fast unto death has stretched for so long that people have lost interest in it. But this is a lame argument. When the government dumped the review committee’s report, Irom came to Jantar Mantar to continue with her agitation. But nothing happened. It is clear that while PM cares about the middle-class that is a product of globalisation, it ignores Irom and her ilk. Government cannot afford ruffling the middle class’s feather. While Hazare is challenging political bureaucracy or executive that include PM too, Irom challenges the barbaric administration. Here comes the test for media. It will be clear who is standing where. The government and media will realise their mistakes the day Irom’s body will give up.