26

Feb

Decisions Determine Destiny. Some To Be Roasted, Others To Be Toasted!

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A person with a mustache AI-generated content may be incorrect.Two contrasting personalities in India's socio-political landscape are facing starkly different public reactions. Podcaster and YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, with a massive 27 million following, is under heavy criticism for controversial remarks made on Samay Raina’s YouTube show, ‘India’s Got Latent’. Meanwhile, BJP’s Rekha Gupta is receiving praise as Delhi’s new chief minister, despite past inflammatory social media posts resurfacing.

Ranveer’s dark humor included an inappropriate question about incest, triggering nationwide outrage. His academic credentials, apologies, and even recognition by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Creators Award failed to quell the backlash. Political leaders, including Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, condemned his remarks, and multiple FIRs were filed against him in BJP-ruled Maharashtra, Assam, and Rajasthan. He sought protection from the Supreme Court, which stayed the FIRs but criticized his offensive content.

Once a sought-after host, Ranveer now finds himself abandoned by celebrities and politicians who previously appeared on his podcast. On the other hand, the BJP’s victory in Delhi has led to enthusiastic celebrations, largely aimed at rubbing salt in AAP’s wounds. However, soon after Gupta’s oath-taking, old social media posts targeting Arvind Kejriwal and using offensive language, including references to his mother, resurfaced. Some of these posts, now deleted, had remained unquestioned for years. Yet, unlike Ranveer, Gupta has faced minimal public scrutiny.

This discrepancy in reactions highlights a concerning trend in public and media discourse. While Ranveer is castigated, a political leader with a history of derogatory remarks enjoys immunity. This selective outrage reflects the growing control over digital content. Ranveer’s controversy appears to be leveraged to justify stricter regulations on online platforms.

 

Column at a Glance
The article contrasts public reactions to two figures in India's socio-political landscape: podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia and BJP's Rekha Gupta. Ranveer faces severe backlash for inappropriate comments made on a YouTube show, leading to multiple FIRs and condemnation from political leaders, despite his previous accolades. In contrast, Gupta, newly appointed as Delhi's chief minister, receives praise despite resurfaced inflammatory social media posts targeting opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Thursday Thunder
By R.K. Misra
This discrepancy highlights selective outrage and raises concerns about media control and censorship in India. The government appears to be using Ranveer's controversy to justify stricter regulations on digital content while suppressing dissenting narratives, as seen in recent actions against media outlets. The article emphasizes the growing pressure on freedom of expression and the ongoing struggle between state control and independent journalism, warning that attempts to manipulate narratives may have unintended consequences.

 

The ruling establishment has struggled to curb the influence of digital media, particularly news platforms that resist political control. The increasing popularity of independent digital voices adds to the government’s discomfort. The Allahbadia episode seems to be a pretext for imposing new legal frameworks that restrict content under the guise of curbing obscenity and violence.

Recent actions suggest an effort to suppress inconvenient narratives. The Union Railway Ministry directed social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to remove 285 links related to the February 15 stampede at New Delhi railway station, citing potential public unrest. Major news organizations were also affected. Similarly, Tamil Vikatan, a century-old publication, faced a website blackout after publishing a cartoon depicting PM Modi shackled next to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The government’s move to block the website only amplified Vikatan’s global visibility.

The Delhi High Court had earlier criticized the Indian Railways for its mismanagement in crowd control, which led to the stampede. The government’s efforts to suppress these incidents indicate a broader strategy of controlling media narratives. In another example, the shutdown of Vikatan’s website followed a referral from the Department of Telecommunications, illustrating the use of bureaucratic tools to silence dissent.

Further raising concerns is the delay in reconstituting the Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory body protecting press freedom. The 14th PCI’s term ended on October 5, 2024, yet the 15th PCI remains unformed. The Mumbai Press Club (MPC) accused authorities of attempting to exclude journalist bodies like MPC and the Editors Guild of India (EGI) from representation, citing minor technicalities. A Delhi High Court ruling on November 22, 2024, reinstated these organizations, but the government’s appeal has indefinitely stalled PCI’s formation.

Judicial interventions continue to challenge such suppressions. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court recently quashed journalist Majid Hyderi’s detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), emphasizing that government critics cannot be detained without clear evidence of a law-and-order threat. Hyderi was arrested in September 2023 after being granted bail in a defamation case. Similarly, journalist Sajad Gul was detained under PSA in January 2022 for posting a video on X, only for the court to overturn the detention, citing lack of concrete evidence.

These cases underscore a growing pattern of media suppression. While independent voices face crackdown, political figures with questionable pasts are shielded. Attempts to manipulate media narratives may seem convenient, but history suggests such tactics often backfire.

The power struggle between state control and independent journalism continues to intensify. Whether it is through legal barriers, FIRs, or social media suppression, the pattern is clear—freedom of expression is under increasing pressure. As digital media continues to rise, efforts to curtail its influence are only becoming more aggressive. The contrast in responses to Ranveer Allahbadia and Rekha Gupta highlights this imbalance, raising questions about fairness and political intent.

Censorship is a double-edged sword. Those seeking to control the narrative should remember that actions today will shape tomorrow’s reality. The seeds sown in the name of control may ultimately bear unintended consequences.

Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You will surely have to eat what you planted one day!

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