-Satyakam Ray

In a democracy, the balance of power depends on the opposition’s checks on absolute power through constant questioning, constructive criticism, and a desire to help the government in national emergencies. The executive and the judiciary work side by side. The Judiciary makes the centre accountable for its actions and prevents it from being autocratic. Nobody is superior to the Constitution of India. Every action of the Centre is accountable and needs further scrutiny by the Parliament.

The Opposition parties, irrespective of their numbers, should analyse the government’s actions carefully and raise questions if necessary. For the smooth running of the Parliament, a conducive atmosphere must be in place that encourages MPs to discuss different agendas freely and cordially. A healthy democracy exists when there’s scope for constructive criticism and an egoless feedback mechanism.

The current situation indicates that over the last decade or so, news channels, print media, and other broadcasters have focused on praising the current government, always in prime time. They have turned a blind eye to the opposition’s criticism of the policies. The opinions or viewpoints of the ruling party members take centre stage in the panel discussion. Even when some panel members raise their points, their mics are muted during live television debates. The anchors play a second fiddle to the spokespersons of the ruling party. The burning agendas like unemployment, pollution, corruption, climate change, and many more are not discussed properly in the debates; only the Hindu-Muslim, Pakistan-based topics are closely dissected during the discussions.

The Opposition party members are trolled mercilessly by the news media, the IT cell of the ruling party, and other sycophant followers. Even if the opposition raises important questions related to national security, events, or policy, they are turned into meme material on the Internet. The opposition leader has previously predicted many international events, such as COVID and economic devastation due to demonetisation, before they occurred. But he was mocked. During the Bharat Jodo yatra, a prominent news channel also went on a blackout, not covering the event at all.

Recently, a video went viral online that mocked the ruling party leader’s interactions with foreign dignitaries during a foreign trip. The government, fearing ridicule, banned the content. They can’t take criticism at all and want a clean image at any cost. Many movies are being made that justify the government’s every stupid decision by creating a false narrative. Entirely, the whole media and entertainment industry is inclined to the current regime for favors and sycophancy. The visibility of one person is so prominent that every billboard and hoarding is occupied by only one person.

The digital media or social media part is mostly working as a breathing space for the opposition. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and others play an equal role for both as they are devoid of any control. The ruling party is trying very hard to control the narratives by employing lapdog YouTubers and social media influencers to keep the image clean. Perhaps, in the near future, there will be certain restrictions on social media to control the narratives, who knows?

In these trying times of global war, what India really wants is the freedom to express solidarity with the country working for the truth. The external influence of certain files may affect the judgment of certain individuals while making a decision on the next course of action. The country stands at a crossroads. Everyone’s views must be taken into consideration as we move forward. As we complain about the opposition’s resistance, one should ask about its visibility in the print media. It’s a democracy, let’s not forget that in the first place!