Information, misinformation and disinformation

Earlier I had posted an article on Indian media and their general cavalier attitude. The same was evident yet again after the recent train accident which killed 100s. From the very beginning, without any proper investigation, the Maoist hand began to do rounds, even though it is widely accepted that Maoists generally do not attack civilians deliberately (let me clarify at the onset that I am no Maoist sympathizer and personally would prefer them to rot in hell). Unlike other incidents here the Maoist leadership has not accepted its responsibility. The People’s committee against police atrocities, the local body formed in retaliation to ruthlessness of CPM cadres and police under Budhha rule, who aligned themselves with the Maoists just to save their village from becoming another Nandigram, has accused CPM cadres to mastermind the attack. Media however lapped up the story fabricated by the CID and West Bengal Government that Maoists were behind the attack. No effort to investigate the truth (isn’t there something called investigative journalism?), not even half hearted attempts to verify what PCPA is saying. English media went hammer and tongs when railway minister said that there should be proper investigation, as if she herself planted the bombs or removed the fishplates. The general feedback from media was opposition and PCPA is trying to rake up false allegations when it is clearly a Maoist attack. Now who says that? CID of West Bengal, an entity with minus one fifty credibility, the same entity which gave a clean chit to perpetrators in Nandigram attack and in Singur rape case. There is a demand from CBI investigation but state government is against it. Nobody in media is raising the question that why state government is against an impartial CBI investigation if they are so damn sure of Maoist involvement?


The truth will probably come out one day, whatever that truth be and Indian media will probably not give much attention to the truth when it emerges, because they will be busy with other misinformation and disinformation. But the Gyaneswari express train accident and the colossal loss of lives raise some pertinent questions? How come the accident happened just before the local civic body elections in which the ruling communists are clearly in back foot? It is too much of a coincidence. If the Maoists are involved why did they choose such a time, knowing very well that it would only embarrass the railway minister and would help their arch rival, the CPM? Maoist influence has waned and CPM influence recently increased in the area and adjoining where the incident occurred, as a result of the joint operation. How could PCPA gather resources to mobilize such an operation? And how minutes after accident the state government machinery, who normally takes ages to react to any catastrophe, addressed a press conference blaming the Maoists?

This is once again the age of Goebbels, showing us clearly how propaganda can flow and how information can be planted at will and how gullible people are fed on that information. A few Bengali and local English media can make a hero out of a criminal who dies while looting votes on behalf of the ruling party just because there is a sustained campaign by the ruling party bosses to deify him. That fellow died while looting votes, when he was challenged by a central paramilitary personnel who was much more unbiased than his SS (read Bengal Police), counterparts. Who says Nazis have perished?