As the people of Assam, there is always a question we have been asked for a long time. Why does the Indian national media or the TV news media fail to cover news from Assam or the Northeast?
Why do we forget to raise this question time and again? And why do we fail to follow through on such demands? What is the reason behind this ignorance? Is there nothing ‘national’ anymore in what the so-called mainstream Indian media does, while covering or reporting news?
Many give counter-arguments by saying that slowly and gradually, news from Assam and the Northeast is being given importance. Somehow, this can be justified while we watched the Tripura election-coverage by national media houses.
Very recently, a controversy around a Bollywood singer belonging to Assam was extensively covered. I’m not questioning their motive behind covering the news, but all I ask is, why isn’t equal importance given to all kinds of news and issues?
It seems like the media is more interested in blowing a controversy out of proportions rather than report ethically. Basically, for the TV news media, Assam and the Northeast only comes into their view when there is an opportunity for gaining TRPs. I am not the only one who has this opinion – whenever you visit Assam or meet Assamese people, I am sure that most people will agree with me. I believe that many people from other such parts of the country too will agree with me.
Now coming back to the point, why am I writing this post today?
A few days ago, a 13-year-old girl was raped and brutally murdered in the Hailakandi district of Assam. According to a local news website TIME 8, the incident took place at the residence of the victim located in Betsora Purbashree village along the Mizoram border, in the Hailakandi district, after the minor girl had just reached home back after school. The accused took the opportunity to enter the house of the girl (from a tribal community) as her parents were at work, raped her, and then brutally murdered her to conceal his crime.
After the incident took place, the anger of the people has been seen on the roads as well as on social media. People are demanding immediate action against the culprit and have even gone on to call for a death penalty.
Along with two friends namely Deep & Naba, Abinash Nath carried out a campaign on the streets of Jorhat, Assam. They demanded that there should be a tougher law to prevent rape cases and that those convicted should be hanged. They have also asked that rape survivors should get proper medical and financial support from the government.
They are planning to write two separate letters to the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, seeking their demands.
However, this is not just the one case of rape and murder in Assam. A news website stated that at least 3,009 rape cases and 17,106 cases of brutality against women have been registered since 2016, as per the data provided by the minister Chandramohan Patowary in the state assembly. It notifies how crimes against women is a serious problem in the state.
Meanwhile, an important question I want to raise here is – why are these important issues not becoming national headlines? Is it only because it took place in Assam and very few people care about Assam and the Northeast?
If this is not true, then why are news channels not holding debates on the safety and security of women this time around? Is it because of where the news is coming from? Or is it because you’re giving more importance to a controversy instead?
I hope that the Indian media has some answers to my questions. This kind of ignorance is not happening for the first time. No one paid attention when Assam was languishing due to floods. No one cared. In February 2018, Assam held a business conference called “Advantage Assam” in Guwahati, but again the national media did not care. Does anyone remember how much footage was given to the business meetups in Gujarat, Maharastra or Uttar Pradesh?
I hope I do not have to give you more examples to showcase the bias that is inherent in Indian media’s reportage.
By this post, I am not going beyond the present and looking back at past events or the historical facts to prove that the Northeastern states are also integral parts of India. Yes, we are proud to be Indian citizens, and our honour and gratitude for the nation is at par with what the rest of the nation has.
To conclude, I must say that this is not a solitary rape case that the national media did not highlight. There are several issues and incidents that the capital-based national newsrooms fail to cover or simply don’t pay any attention to.
It’s the ethical and moral duty of the national media to represent Assam and the Northeastern states properly. In a democratic society, everyone’s voice should be given due attention.