By Ajaz Ashraf / News Click
Hindus and religious minorities differ in their feelings and perceptions of Indian media and issues critical to its independence. This is one of the major findings of a media survey conducted by the Lokniti programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.
Conducted in 19 states, the survey shows more Muslims, Sikhs and Christians than Hindus think the media has become less free than before. They are also less inclined than Hindus to accept government surveillance, its regulation of social media platforms and its imposition of internet shutdowns.
These responses of religious minorities are of little solace in the larger dark picture the CSDS surveys paints—Indian media consumers harbour illiberal sentiments, are not passionate about protecting their right to free expression, and are seemingly untouched by the worries expressed over the media losing its freedom.
Consider this: 43% of those who watch or read news feel the media today is as free as it was before to show the “truth” or enjoys greater freedom than what it did a few years ago; only 30% of them think the media is less free than before, and a substantial 27% just do not have an opinion.
These are startling findings in the backdrop of the Indian State filing a slew of court cases against journalists. Add 43% and 27%, and you would not be wrong in thinking the State can still, without fearing a backlash, harass and pressure those waving the flag of free expression.
In contrast to 45% of Hindu news consumers saying the media enjoys greater freedom than before, 33% of Muslims and only 28% of other communities (a category comprising Sikhs and Christians) support this contention. In all three categories, however, those with no opinion comprise over 25% each, suggesting they are most likely not even engaged in furious debates over the diminishing media freedom in India.
The scenario gets even more pessimistic over the issue of whether the government is morally right to carry out surveillance of social media platforms and messaging platforms. As high as 45% of social media users think the government is right in doing so, even though there are varying shades of agreement with the proposition, ranging from “fully right” to “somewhat right” or “right, if on the grounds of security”. Only 40% of them think it is “fully wrong” or “somewhat wrong”. The remaining 16% have no opinion.
This story was originally published in newsclick.in . Read the full story here