Source: http://www.thehoot.org/mediaresearch/survey.asp
SURVEY OF BANGALORE BASED KANNADA
NEWSPAPERS
Kannada News Papers covered
PRAJAVANI
VIJAYA KARNATAKA
KANNADA PRABHA
UDAYAVANI
SAMYUKTHA KARNATAKA
Period
28 February - 16 March 2002
This report is a random survey of the Gujarat
Violence covered in the above said newspapers
during the period mentioned above. The report
focuses on how the Kannada Press responded to
the carnage by taking into account the stories,
Photographs published and examining the
headlines, captions editorials, letters etc.
PRAJAVANI
The coverage of the Gujarat Violence during the period
under study in PRAJAVANI is comprehensive both in
terms of scale and depth.
PRAJAVANI depended on both agencies and
correspondents' stories to bring home the details of the
Gujarat violence. On the very first day of Godhra
incident which became banner lead of the day,
"Prajavani' took care even in giving headline and
narrating the incident. It carried a picture of relief team
members helping to remove the charred dead bodies.
For the next several days Gujarat violence reports with
pictures dominated page 1. The pictures of burnt
vehicles , burnt tires , charred bodies , burnt shops,
victims in the relief camps, army patrolling, political
leaders visits , protest and peace march were used to
depict the violent happenings in the state. The pictures
of women pleading for protection with folded hands, an
old woman sitting before her burnt house with just a
few vessels and praying for peace with such an agony
on her face are heart rendering. The unforgettable
picture of a Muslim youth with folded hands pleading
for his life in Ahmedabad which attracted the national
attention was also carried in page 1 of `Prajavani'.
The opposition response, the local political leaders`
comments were given adequate coverage. Even the
concerns expressed by international community to
Gujarat Carnage found space in Foreign News
columns. Three Hubli lorries getting burnt in Gujarat
and the drivers found missing report appeared from
Hubli which gave Karnataka dimension to the Gujarat
Clashes.
"Prajavani ' is the first Kannada Newspaper to depute a
correspondent to Gujarat to do, on the spot special
stories. The series of stories done by the
correspondent gave vivid accounts of different
dimensions of Gujarat violence. It also got the
Karnataka angle in the sense that several stories
depicted the pathetic conditions of the people who had
migrated to Gujarat from north Karnataka districts in
search of jobs, but lost their relatives and properties in
the clashes. One story gave a picturesque account of a
village which is known for communal harmony. Human
interest story on the plight of victims who were worried
about their missing relatives, Kannadiga's plight in
Naroda Patiya area which was also called as "Chota
Karnataka ' gave touching account of the victims who
suffered in the carnage. One story completely devoted
to depict police atrocities and their blatant support to
attackers. One more story discussed the impact of the
clashes on Gujarat economy.
"Prajavni's" editorials which condemned Godhra
incident, which expressed concern over burning
Gujarat and which strongly advocated punishment for
those political leaders and police chiefs who were
responsible for the carnage, never used inflammatory
language. They were balanced and got the readers
appreciation in the letters to the editor column.
However, Prajavani editorials came under fire in the
VHP protest rally held in Bangalore on March 3 to
condemn Godhra incident. In that meeting even
"Prajavani" copies were burnt protesting against its
editorial stand . Several readers' letters published,
condemned Godhra and Gujarat violence. Some
editorial page articles such as one from veteran
journalist Kuldip Nayar focussed on "Lessons from
Gujarat'. Another from Karnataka state minister B.K.
Chandrashekar focussed on Communal hatred and the
responsibilities of the Government in dealing the
situation.
Prajavani also published some positive pictures and
stories in its inside pages. A woman holding Gandhiji's
photograph in a peace rally in Delhi, boys holding
religious symbols of Hindu, Muslim, Christian in the
background of Gandhiji`s picture, a policeman carrying
a baby girl who came out in curfew bound Ahmedabad
to her house, were helpful in sending the positive
message. One more story narrated how a Muslim
woman saved three Hindus of whom two were TV
channel cameramen.
"Prajavani" also responded to local events organised to
condemn Gujarat violence during the fortnight under
review. Women in Black protest, women peace rally
and Human Chain organised by communal harmony
committees were some of the events which were
covered either as caption stories along with pictures-
some in page 1 or as news items in city pages.
In total, the coverage and reportage was restrained and
the underlying perspective was to uphold secular
values. In Saturday supplement (Karnataka Darshana,
16th March) an article on "Kudremothi Moharam" was
published. It is a folk festival in North Karnataka
symbolising Hindu - Muslim integration.
VIJAYA KARNATAKA
Report on Godhra incident which was a banner lead,
asserted in its intro that 57 Ramsevaks were burnt
alive. In the very next para it also stated, among the
dead 25 women and 15 children were also included.
On that very day it also carried an editorial condemning
the incident. The editorial urged to find speedy solution
to Ayodhya controversy. It warned that if the violence
erupts, it would be difficult to contain.
VK carried pictures of burning vehicles. Political
leaders delegation meeting president in the wake of
Gujarat violence were carried on page 1.The VHP
sponsored "Bharat Bandh' which drew mixed response
was given promoting heading such as ":Bandh partially
successful'. The editorial on that day said , as
Ramsevaks were burnt alive in Godhra, large scale
violence erupted in retaliation and it may spread to
other places. It also just mentioned in its editorial that a
horrible incident took place in which 30 people were
burnt alive including a congress MP and his 19 family
members. Again it stressed that these incidents show
that Ayodhya dispute should be sorted out speedily.
It also commented, communal issue erupted due to the
delicate Ayodya issue and it is not easy to contain it. It
also asked both communities to discuss with
Government and control violence. Otherwise, it warned
if both start taking revenge there would be the
possibility of unimaginable losses.
Vijaya Karnataka covered regular news items of
protests, statements and other related stories of
Gujarat Violence widely in its page1 and inside pages.
The announcement of BJP to celebrate anti terrorist
day on March 9 got page1 treatment. The report, a
press statement made by Jana Krishnamurthy said that
the BJP leaders would convince people on what kind of
negative consequences would occur due to the people
who co operate with anti-India activities of ISI. He also
defended Modi Government telling that he is managing
a very difficult situation which no other Government
would have managed.
"Vijaya Karnataka" wrote an editorial on PM's
comments that Gujarat violence was a blot on nation's
dignity. Here also it opined that as Ayodhya is a
delicate issue and as national, state Government knew
that VHP would take hard stance, it should have taken
proper precautionary measures. It warned in the end,
with "Gujarat burnt," care should be taken not to allow
the whole nation to burn.
"Vijaya Karnataka" carried a bit in page 1 just with a
single headline SHAHANAVAZ APASWARA. The story
has editorialising intro stating that though hundreds of
innocents were dying in communal clashes in Gujarat,
the central Minister of Civil Aviation has spit fire.
In the next para the report said the minister asked the
PM to take harsh measures to build confidence among
people and said that police made delay in containing
communal clashes. It also highlighted Littérateur U.R.
Anantha Murthy's letter to president and Pejavar Shri to
intervene to stop Gujarat carnage.
The migration of families in Gujarat, Puri Akandalamani
temple becoming venue for the marriage of Azad and
Naseema to which about 500 people belonging to
different religion attended was highlighted. There was
one small report which talked about Godhra - Karachi
relation. The report said the local people of Godhra
had social relations with Karachi and an inquiry had
been ordered to look into this aspect quoting police
sources. It also said that many people travel between
Godhra - Karachi by using fake passport.
VK carried a report along with Modi' s picture stating
"Modi: avarige 'hero', ivarige 'villain'. (Modi, hero to
them, villain to these). The report said even though
public opinion and opposition parties view Modi as
"Khalnayak', the ruling party is not worried. It quoted
some political leaders saying that thanks to Modi, that
BJP was now able to unite all dalit, tribals and Middle
class Hindus.
One more editorial (13th March) defended Modi saying
that since last 4 years there were no communal clashes
in Gujarat. It argued that to agree to opposition
allegation that Modi Government followed delayed
tactics in controlling clashes, one has to provide proof.
It also opined that the demand made by opposition in
parliament for Advani and Modi's resignation is a
hurried step. It also covered local protest march by BJP
activists along with picture in inside page (March 10).
KANNADA PRABHA
KP also made Godhra incident as banner lead with
burnt train picture. It just said, 58 people died when
strangers put fire to train bogies which had Ramsevaks
in it. It wrote an editorial in strong language
condemning the incident on the next day. It criticized
VHP s actions which did not heed PM s advice to wait
for Court Judgement on Ayodhya. The editorial said
this gave an ample hint to note what would happen in
future if it went against Vajpayee' advise.
KP also published photograph of woman crying before
her father - in- law's body. "Kannada Prabha" well
displayed the picture of a man (the caption did not
mention his religion) with folded hands pleading for his
life, which grabbed national attention .On Sunday, a
special anchor story on communal clashes TJ George'
was published Anantha Murthy's letter to President and
Pejavar Shree was displayed as 6 column item on
page 2. A picture of Swamy Adhokshajananda meeting
Muslim leaders and calling for communal harmony is
page 1 story... The story on Migration of Minorities in
Gujarat occupied page 1.
It carried Nirmala Deshpande's interview as edit page
article condemning mindless violence.
KP published a photograph on 8th March with a
headline "avane ivanu'. This was the picture of the
same person with folded hands which attracted
national attention. The person, who somehow managed
to live, was photographed in his own Looted house.
Only KP covered this photo.
KP also published an editorial page article on
"communal harmony saint Kabir' which became
relevant during the disturbances. It also published
some human interest news stories depicting the way
the houses were looted, the agony of victims, some
Hindu - Muslim Bhai Bhai type incidents which occured
during the clashes. Local events of human chain,
protest rallies by left parties and BJP were covered in
inside pages.
UDAYAVANI
UDAYAVANI published some vivid pictures of burning
shops, buildings, burnt vehicles to bring home the
magnitude of clashes. On March 8, on the occasion of
International Women's day it published a picture of a
woman with her kids in Ahmedabad relief camp whose
husband's whereabouts are not known after the
carnage.. The caption rightly noted the new type of
problems women being subjected to at times of
communal clashes.
Opposition delegation meeting the president with
picture and Indian Americans concern over the clashes
went into inside pages. All the papers including UV
highlighted former PM H. D. DeveGowda urging the
Modi Government dismissal in the inside page.
Advani's visit to Godhra is highlighted with picture in
inside pages. U. R Anantha Murthy appealing to
President to intervene to restore communal harmony is
highlighted in UV in page1.
It also published many items of press statements
against communal carnage. The picture of all party
delegation's visit to Gujarat under the leadership of
Sonia Gandhi was taken in page1....
Protest rally by local youth groups, VHP rally, Women
rally by women federation are all covered in inside
pages... It also gave some positive stories of
Sabaramathi Express resuming service to Ayodhya
with picture. A picture of communal harmony rally in
Delhi appears inside pages.
SAMYUKTHA KARNATAKA
SAMYUKTHA KARNATAKA gave editorialising
heading the day after Godhra incident - AGNIKUNDA
GUJARAT- with red colour tint. The main heading said
"violence erupted against Ramsevaks killings, 80 dead,
700 arrested, Curfew all over'. The picture of burning
trucks was also used. On the same day, the editorial
said as innocent Ramsevaks were burnt alive, there is
every possibility of communal feeling getting flared
up... So it asked VHP leaders to heed to the advice of
PM to halt Ram Mandir Agitation. At the end it even
advised citing, Lord Rama himself was the incarnation
of tolerance.
One more heading openly mentioned the religion and
said, "Muslims asked to condemn Godhra incident".
The report which is a press statement of a VHP leader
said "the Hindus' patience also has its limits'. One
more editorial condemned Modi Government which did
not take precautionary measures. It went to the extent
of praying Sri Rama to give good sense to all. The
Bangarapet clash in the state was covered under the
heading "Godhra fire spreads to Bangarapet'.
Local events of Human Chain against communal
violence, CPI, CPM protest rally, protest meeting
convened by Karnataka State Peace and Harmony
Organisation were all covered in the city pages. Press
statements and condemnations by different political
leaders against communal violence and other related
stories picked from agencies were covered widely.
C G Manjula