Mumbai: Hitting out at media for "ignoring" significant events while choosing to focus on Sheena Bora murder case, Shiv Sena on Friday questioned whether media has justified its role as fourth pillar of democracy and if it is a true reflection of people's thoughts.
The party came down heavily on the media for overlooking the 50th anniversary of the country's 1965 war victory and being "deaf" towards the plight of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions which are reeling under severe drought.
"While covering Indrani case, the media ignored many other incidents that took place. The 50th anniversary of the 1965 Indo-Pak war was ignored. If the media ignored the supreme sacrifices made by our jawans to win the war, can media be called a reflection of people's thoughts?" the Sena asked in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
"The media is giving minute details of what Indrani ate, drank in the lockup and whether she slept or not. There is a competition on this between media houses. At the same time, Vidarbha and Marathwada are reeling under severe drought conditions and people and cattle there are dying. But nobody hears their screams," it said.
Taunting the media, the Shiv Sena said “it seems like terror-related problems have ended, separatists in Jammu and Kashmir have given up their war against India and Pakistan has stopped ceasefire violations.
"It seems no jawan is being killed by Pakistanis now and no civilian is getting hurt. It seems all the problems of school students and teachers in Mumbai have been sorted out and problems related to food, clothing and shelter have ended and the only entertainment left now is Indrani’s case," the Sena quipped.
Pointing out important issues like corruption drought situation, the ruling alliance partner said, "Poor people are selling their children for money and activists are being murdered. The media is only concentrating on the Sheena murder case." "In such a situation, can a confused and a deaf media be called the fourth pillar of democracy?" the party asked.
