Pahalgam violence an attack on Indian democracy, social harmony: Ram Bahadur Rai
terrorist attack
in Pahalgam on April 22 was not just an act of terror but carried three significant meanings. "First, it was an attack on Indian values of democracy, coexistence, and social harmony.
Second, it was an assault on religious freedom and confirmation of the artificial theory that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together as a nation. Third, it was an attempt to derail tourism and teerthatan (religious tourism)."
He praised the country's media, especially print, for "fair coverage" of the Pahalgam attack and its aftermath. "The print media informed the public that following Pahalgam, the govt had no choice but to launch
Operation Sindoor
.
This operation symbolises the unmatched prowess of our armed forces, projects the govt as powerful (parakrami), and underscores its steely resolve to end cross-border terrorism," said Rai, chairman of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and a Padma Bhushan awardee.
Rai said Operation Sindoor's biggest success was in securing global support unlike earlier wars with Pakistan, when India had to explain its position.
On the issue of "paid news," Rai questioned why the govt has not taken actions to curb it. He urged the creation of rules and a regulatory body to guide journalists on their responsibilities. "It should not be like the Press Council of Jawaharlal Nehru's era, which Arun Jaitley called 'a toothless tiger.' The body must regulate all media, from print to digital," he said. He called on chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take initiative, as he did with the Uniform Civil Code.
"This body should not control the media but show it the right path, its rightful duties, and what it must avoid," Rai said.
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