Godi-media vs kisan, media
Channel: Mutik Khan
Date: 06/02/2021

At the Singhu border, the sight of farmers holding banners that say, “Godi Media, Go Back” or “Godi Media Not Allowed” is hard to miss. When a media person tries to interview or speak with them, the protesting farmers do not hesitate to ask, with a no-nonsense look on their face, “You are not from Godi media, right?
At the farmers’ protest, the media is an antagonistic force, like the Modi government and corporate houses.

The slogans are loud here: “Desh ki Ekta (unity) zindabad, Kisan Ekta zindabad, Modi sarkar murdabad, boycott Ambani-Adani, Godi media murdabad…”

“Godi media” is a term used by critics to refer to a brand of pliant journalism that has taken shape over the past few years, unquestioningly toeing the line of the government and running vitriolic campaigns against those who speak up against the administration.

The farmers’ anger at the coverage by sections of the media of their protest is palpable. When a journalist reaches out to the farmers, many of them prefer either not to speak or to question why they are being portrayed as Khalistanis, terrorists and Maoists. 

The farmers’ lack of trust in the media can be gauged from the experience this correspondent and photojournalist Prem Singh had on Saturday. Several groups of farmers at different places at the dharna site not only grill us about the negative coverage in sections of the media, but some of them also snatch our camera and accreditation cards. When a protester sees “Government of India” written on my accreditation card, he snatches my notes and tears them.

For many of the agitating farmers, media means a single entity. Some of them lose patience when this correspondent asks them about their mode of protest and their objections to the farm laws.

Sukhjeet Singh, a farmer from Chamkor Sahib village in Rupnagar district of Punjab, is seen holding a poster on which is written: ‘#Godi media: We are farmers, stop showing us as terrorists.”

“We have sacrificed our lives for the country. Now our family members are fighting on the country’s borders. Whenever there is a flood or any other calamity, they help civilians. Your media is calling us terrorists,” Sukhjeet says.

He refers to the holy teachings of Sikh Gurus on sacrifice and fighting for truth and justice. He explains that “Sacha sauda (true business)” means helping the needy, which can be learnt from Guru Nanak’s life.
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