Ranjona Banerji: Rise of lies and disinformation about Bangladesh

Bengal remains top of mind, news-wise. Or rather, Bengal and Bangladesh. And you could add Assam, which is nearby.

There seems to be a link between the rape and murder of the young doctor and allegations of corruption and a mafia-like nature running RG Kar and other hospitals in Bengal. At first, these were rumours within the Bengali community, shared on social media. But now, more and more media outlets have picked up the very serious allegations against the hospital.

The Supreme Court hearing on August 22 also heard the allegations and raised questions about who the director, Dr Sandip Ghosh, was trying to protect. This is especially significant given the lies and misinformation that were first spread about the doctor’s death, including an RG Kar administrator informing parents that the doctor had committed suicide. That the doctor knew about the shady mafia is also an allegation against the hospital director.

This is a damning statement from the deputy director of RG Kar:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Aug/21/flaagged-corruption-charges-against-sandip-ghosh-two-years-ago-says-rg-kar-hospital-official

How much of this has appeared in the local media over the years? The national media certainly hasn’t picked it up.

The Supreme Court hearing seems to have calmed the anger somewhat, as far as striking doctors are concerned. But the issue of crimes against women remains. Once the outrage dies down, Indian society becomes very touchy on the issue of patriarchy. Almost every politician of every colour, sex, gender, ideology finds it easy to blame women and protect the men involved. The media plays no small role in this.

Recent allegations of rape, serious sexual assault and harassment on X/Twitter by a former journalist by her editors and others have caused little media outcry, except in a few narrow circles.

The situation in Bangladesh remains tense, but the Indian media is unreliable when it comes to information about our neighbour. Lies and misinformation continue to top the media agenda, especially when it comes to Hindu-Muslim relations. News after news of Hindus being attacked is debunked. This means that when Hindus are actually attacked – and there have been such cases since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government – ​​it is difficult to know which news outlet to believe.

This trend in the Indian media is directly attributable to the rise of the BJP-RSS and of course since the accession of Narendra Modi. It is a dangerous threat but unfortunately it shows no signs of abating.

It is therefore somewhat comforting to see that media associations in Assam took exception to the unnecessary Islamophobic remarks made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to a journalist who asked him a question at a press conference about levelling of hills in Assam. Biswa Sarma has been relentless in his attacks on Muslims ever since he quit the Congress and joined the BJP.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam/media-bodies-slam-assam-cm-for-targeting-scribes-religious-identity/article68554012.ece

The status of women safety in India is evident from the following:

https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/delhi-court-orders-security-arrangement-for-women-wrestler-in-sexual-harassment-case-against-brij-bhushan-singh-267451

Delhi Police has defended itself in a confused manner by claiming that security has been handed over to Haryana Police. But in the use of words like “misunderstood” and “rectified” by Delhi Police, it is clear that something was amiss:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vinesh-phogat-alleges-withdrawal-of-security-from-women-wrestlers/article68555855.ece

Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views expressed here are personal.