“DAINIK BARTMAN” A BENGALI DAILY WAS GIVEN BIRTH TO MALIGN AND HATE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CPI (M) AND OTHER MAINSTREAM LEFTIST PARTIES

Late Barun Sengupta was originally with “Ananda Bazaar Patrika”. This anti-Communist reporter used to write articles maligning the CPI (M) and other Leftist parties. In the seventies, he was put behind bars for five years for slanderous writings against Sidhartha Shankar Roy, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, and his wife.

In the late eighties he disassociated himself from “Ananda Bazaar Patrika” and gave birth to the Bengali daily print media “Dainik Bartaman”. This daily newspaper from the very day of its birth has been engaged in spitting venom against the CPI (M). Each and every letter, word and sentence of this daily is full of distortions, manufactured false news and reportings lies, twistings, false propaganda, provocative, aggressive, misrepresentations and slanders. In the name of journalism It has been playing a pivotal role in creating serious problems of law and order in Lalgarh, Mangalkote, Khanakul and other parts of West Bengal. It wholeheartedly and fully supports the rainbow alliance of Maoists-Mamata Banerjee-Congress-SUCI.

WHY MEDIA SILENT ON MAOISTS BUTCHERING INNOCENT TRIBALS IN WEST BENGAL?

Most of the people so far butchered by Maoists at Lalgarh and other parts of West Bengal are poor tribals, people belonging to weaker sections of the society and Muslims mostly having allegiance to CPI (M). The society demands timely disposal of the dead body of even a creature. But the entire world witnessed with horror how the dead bodies of 4 poor tribal CPI (M) cadres butchered by Maoist-TMC-Congress-SUCI Alliance were kept in open for 5 days without disposal by the Maoist-TMC criminals at Lalgarh in West Bengal. Their relatives were neither allowed to come near nor touch the bodies. The Maoists and TMC workers danced and sang around the bodies in the same manner as is practiced by cannibals. Their brutality and inhumanity surpassed all limits of human tolerance and society.

Thousands of CPI (M) cadres and their families have been evicted from their ancestral homes. TMC-Maoist criminals and murderers have torched their houses. They have been rendered jobless in these hard days of existence. The families of the murdered persons and others have been thrown into the streets for starvation.

The so-called innocent and impartial Governor of West Bengal is silent over unprecedented slaughter of innocent people because he thinks that they have no right to survive for their political allegiance to the CPI (M). His conscience wakes up suddenly as and when Mamata Banerjee, Maoists and perverted “so-called” intellectuals demand and desire. Shame on the Governor and the imperialist agents in the guise of so-called intellectuals!

The sycophant, spineless, anti-Communist intellectuals, few politically motivated media and so-called human rights activists are busy in receiving Free AC Railway Passes, money packets and other favours and gratis from imperialists, finance capital, big business houses, Mamata Banerjee and landlords for their shameful anti-national role and service for financial gains.

So far more than 350 innocent people have been butchered on and from 01-01-2001 by the “Rainbow Alliance” of Mamata Banerjee, Maoists terrorists, Congress, SUCI, Perverted Intellectuals, fake human rights organizations and a section of politically motivated media.

Out of this 350, more than 100 are tribals. Following is an incomplete list as on 30-11-2009 of poor tribals butchered so far.

No. Name of victim, Address of victim, Date of murder

1 Sudhir Singh Sardar, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 28-11-01
2 Anil Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 04-02-02
3 Rampada Majhi, Ranibandh, Bankura, 11-02-02
4 Puntibala Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 31-05-02
5 Icchhamati Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 31-05-02
6 Priyanka Mahato (4yrs), Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 31-05-02
7 Mahendra Mahato, Bandowan, Purulia, 09-07-05
8 Raghunath Murmu, Barikul, Bankura, 09-07-05
9 Bablu Mudi, Barikul, Bankura, 09-07-05
10 Kartik Singh, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 04-03-06
11 Gatilal Tudu, Barikul, Bankura, 04-03-06
12 Gumai Murmu, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 08-03-06
13 Jaladhar Mahato, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 08-03-06
14 Uttam Sardar, Chandpur, Nadia, 19-06-06
15 Swapan Sardar, Chandpur, Nadia, 19-06-06
16 Anil Mahato, Shilda, Medinipur (W), 19-09-06
17 Dinesh Baske, Shilda, Medinipur (W), 19-09-09
18 Pailaram Tudu, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 09-01-07
19 Rampada Singh, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 30-03-07
20 Parikshit Singh, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 30-03-07
21 Manik Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 27-05-07
22 Bhagirath Karmakar, Barabazar, Purulia, 01-11-07
23 Sufal Mandi, Purulia, Purulia, 20-11-07
24 Govind Singh, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 06-12-07
25 Pahalan Kumar, Balarampur, Purulia, 01-01-08
26 Ramprasad Mondal, Chapra, Nadia, 02-01-08
27 Mangal Mahato, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 15-02-08
28 Karam Chand Singh, Belpahari, 22-02-08
29 Subhash Mahato, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 29-02-08
30 Jugol Murmu, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 13-04-08
31 Nabakumar Murmu, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 13-04-08
32 Kshetrapal Majhi, Arsha, Purulia, 19-04-08
33 Debraj Hembram, Balarampur, Purulia, 05-05-08
34 Biswanath Mandi, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 15-06-08
35 Sunil Halsana, Chakdah, Nadia, 16-09-08
36 Debi Prasad Singh, Ausgram, Burdwan, 24-10-08
37 Shankar Rauth, Canning, 24, Parganas (S), 27-10-08
38 Indrajit Muda, Banspahari, Medinipur (W), 31-10-08
39 Haradhan Majhi, Balarampur, Purulia, 03-02-09
40 Biswanath Digar, Ranibandh, Bankura, 08-02-09
41 Jharna Mandi, Dhaniakhali, Hooghly, 26-02-09
42 Sumana Mandi, Dhaniakhali, Hooghly, 26-02-09
43 Durga Deshwal, Bhulabheda, Medinipur (W), 18-03-09
44 Santosh Mahato, Bhulabheda, Medinipur (W), 18-03-09
45 Hambir Mandi, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 21-04-09
46 Gopinath Murmu, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 22-04-09
47 Baikunth Mahato, Supurdihgram, Purulia, 23-04-09
48 Bibhuti Singh Sardar, Supurdihgram, Purulia , 23-04-09
49 Manu Singh, Bandowan, Purulia, 15-05-09
50 Dinesh Mahato, Balarmpur, Purulia, 23-05-09
51 Bhondulal Munda, Jhalda, Purulia,, 25-05-09
52 Mamoni Kisku, Binpur, Medinipur (W), 06-06-09
53 Salku Soren, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 11-06-09
54 Shankar Tudu, Belpahari, Medinipur (W), 13-06-09
55 Prabir Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 13-06-09
56 Sanjay Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 14-06-09
57 Debabrata Soren, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 14-06-09
58 Mohan Singh, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 14-06-09
59 Niladri Mahato, Lodashuli, Medinipur (W), 17-06-09
60 Anil Mahato, Lodashuli, Medinipur (W), 17-06-09
61 Abhijit Mahato, Lodashuli, Medinipur (W), 17-06-09
62 Sisir Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 18-06-09
63 Dubraj Soren, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 18-06-09
64 Dasarath Soren, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 18-06-09
65 Chaitnya Soren, Goaltore, Medinipur (W), 18-06-09
66 Budheswar Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 21-06-09
67 Moloy Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 05-07-09
68 Motilal Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 05-07-09
69 Barendranath Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 10-07-09
70 Gurucharan Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 11-07-09
71 Tarani Singh, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 14-07-09
72 Gangadhar Mahato, Barabazar, Purulia, 15-07-09
73 Jaladhar Mahato, Jhargam, Purulia, 18-07-09
74 Fagu Baske, Belpahari, Midnapur (W), 22-07-09
75 Sagar Masant, Goaltore, Midnapur (W), 30-07-09
76 Brahmodeo Singh, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
77 Motilal Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
78 Moloy Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
79 Ashok Mahato, Lalgarh, Midnapur (W), 31-07-09
80 Nirmal Mahato, Bhulabheda, Medinipur (W), 02-08-09
81 Gurucharan Tudu, Bhulabheda, Medinipur (W), 03-08-09
82 Gunadhar Singh, Bhulabheda, Medinipur (W), 05-08-09
83 Shaktipada Murmu, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 06-08-09
84 Ashim Soren, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 06-08-09
85 Budhu Hansda, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 06-08-09
86 Mangal Soren, Binpur, Medinipur (W), 29-08-09
87 Bharat Hembram, Balarampur, Purulia, 30-08-09
88 Sukhdeo Mahato, Bhramarmara, Medinipur (W), 31-08-09
89 Debi Prasad Hansda, Balarampur, Purulia, 31-08-09
90 Apu Singh, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 06-09-09
91 Rajib Singh, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 06-09-09
92 Satish Singh Sardar, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 06-09-09
93 Ramdas Murmu, Sarenga, Bankura, 08-09-09
94 Baneswar Murmu, Sarenga, Bankura, 08-09-09
95 Manik Mandi, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 20-09-09
96 Budheswar Mandi, Medinipur (W), 20-09-09
97 Bagan Mandi, Medinipur (W), 20-09-09
98 Nimai Bisui, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 24-09-09
99 Radhanath Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 30-09-09
100 Anadi Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 30-09-09
101 Bhakti Mahato, Shalboni, Medinipur (W), 30-09-09
102 Barun Pratihar, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 01-10-09
103 Panchanan Tudu, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 02-10-09
104 Sasadhar Mahato, Lalgarh, Medinipur (W), 08-10-09
105 Kanai Murmu, Binpur, Midnapur (W), 13-10-09
106 Mantu Mudi, Belpahari, W. Midnapur, 18-10-09
107 Ratan Mudi, Belpahari, W. Midnapur, 18-10-09
108 Shital Hembram, Binpur, Midnapur (W), 19-10-09
109 Pratap Nayek, Binpur, W. Medinipur, 26-10-09
110 Tapan Mudi, Belpahari, W. Midnapur, 29-10-09
111 Dilip Mahato, Belpahari, W Midnapur, 29-10-09
112 Madhab Mudi, Belpahari, W. Midnapur, 31-10-09
113 Anil Mahato, Binpur, W. Midnapur, 01-11-09
114 Joyram Hansda, Binpur, W. Midnapur, 07-11-09
115 Manoranjan Mahali, Binpur, W. Midnapur, 07-11-09
116 Naba Kumar Singh, Binpur, W. Midnapur, 08-11-09
117 Ajit Mahato, Jhargram, W. Midnapore, 16-11-2009
118 Khudiram Mudi, W. Midnapore, 16-11-2009
119 Jaganath Mahato, Shalboni, W. Midnapore, 19-11-2009
120 Bhanguram Hansda, Kotwali, W. Midnapore, 19-11-2009
121 Tapan Mahato, Shalboni, W. Midnapore, 23-11-2009
122 Ashok Kotal, Shalboni, W. Midnapore, 23-11-2009
123 Subimal Mali, Arsha, Purulia, 26-11-2009
124 Karuna Mahato, Shalboni, W. Midnapore, 27-11-2009
125 Braja Bikash Mahato, Binpur, W. Midnapore, 27-11-2009
126 Dhanapati Murmu, Shalboni, W. Midnapore, 28-11-2009
127 Satya Kinkar Hansda, Goaltore, W. Midnapore, 30-11-09

Apart from this, Maoist-TMC goons have killed more than 200 people belonging to other castes, 41 police personnel, 1 doctor, 1 nurse, 4 government employees on duty. Shankar Samanta and many others murdered at Nandigram and Khejuri by them are not included in the above list.

MAOIST INTELLECTUALS WITH MAOIST MURDERER CHATRADHAR MAHATO IN LALGARH ON 17TH JUNE, 2009

"THE STATESMAN" UNDER SEIZE OF MAOIST INTELLECTUALS

It is needless to mention that before independence, “The Statesman”, a print media of English version, had always supported the British rulers and spitted venom against the freedom fighters.

“The Statesman” in Bengali is its sister concern. Though the English version pretends to be impartial to some extent, its Bengali version nakedly supports the rainbow alliance of Mamata Banerjee-Maoists-Congress-SUCI. This print media is in fact under the complete capture of pro-Maoist intellectuals.

It never follows minimum journalistic ethics and fairness. Its sole and only political aim is to instal Mamata Banerjee as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal by anyhow and at any cost. So, all its reportings are guided by this aim and objective. It has been turning day into night and night into day. Throwing all code of ethics and media guidelines to the winds, it is hell bent on disgracing, defaming, tarnishing and discrediting CPI (M) and its allies on this or that pretext.

Every single news and reporting of this print media is based on distortions of fact, slanderous campaign, untruthfulness, defamatory or derogatory imputations, inaccuracy, partiality, unfairness and indecency.

It has surpassed even the “Ananda Bazaar Patrika” and the “Star Anand” in all matters of fraudulency, deception, dishonesty, distortion of fact, manufacture and concoction of false & fake news, slanderous campaign, unfairness and what not.

NEFARIOUS GAMEPLAN OF BENGALI TV NEWS CHANNEL "STAR ANAND" IN FAVOUR OF MAMATA BANERJEE

The big business house Ananda Bazar Group of Publications in fact controls “Star Anand”, a Bengali TV News Channel. It is not only very much biased but also prejudiced against the C.P.I. (M), the Left Front and the Left Front Government since its birth. It never follows minimum journalistic ethics and fairness while airing news in respect of CPI (M) and the Left Front Government. Its sole and only political aim is to instal Mamata Banerjee as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal by anyhow and at any cost. So, all its reportings are guided by this aim and objective. It has been turning day into night and night into day. Throwing all code of ethics and media guidelines to the winds, it is hell bent on disgracing, defaming, tarnishing and discrediting CPI (M) and its allies on this or that pretext. It is practically turned into the mouthpiece of Mamata Banerjee. It is an open secret that its every single news and reporting in respect of CPI (M) and the Left Front are based on distortions of fact, slanderous campaign, untruthfulness, defamatory or derogatory imputations, inaccuracy, partiality, unfairness and indecency. It is so much obsessed with anti-CPI (M) politics that even a slight rumour or gossip involving CPI (M) occupies its headlines. If Hitler and/or his Propaganda Minister Dr. Joseph Goebbels were alive, they would have hung their heads in shame to see that their successor in the “Star Anand” has reached very far-off surpassing them in the matters of fraudulency, deception, dishonesty, distortion of fact, manufacture and concoction of false & fake news, slanderous campaign, unfairness and what not.

MAOIST-NAXALITE MAMATA BANERJEE WITH MAOIST GOON CHATRADHAR MAHATO IN LALGARH ON 04-02-2009

ATTACK ON COMMON PEOPLE WITH THE HELP OF FEW POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MEDIA

On 15th of this month, Partha Chatterjee, Opposition Leader of West Bengal Legislative Assembly and 4 others MLAs belonging to TMC enacted a high-pitched drama most illegally before the chamber of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister, at Writers’ Buildings demanding his arrest on illogical and unreasonable grounds. They staged a ‘Dharna’ from 1-28 p.m. to 4-25 p.m. inviting the entire media for coverage and widespread publicity. The whole exercise was aimed at only one purpose of diverting the attention of the people from the exposed conspiracy hatched between Mamata Banerjee and Maoists at the residence of Subhaprasanna, who is now called the modern Rasputin of West Bengal, at night of 14th instant. The matter did not end here.

Their supremo Mamata Banerjee also incited her unruly and undisciplined supporters through “Star Anand” her own electronic media to take recourse to all sorts of destructive and obstructive methods.

The whole population of Kolkata and daily commuters were subjected to inhuman torture and sufferings in the name of blockade of roads and trains.
The normal life of the common people was brought to a standstill.

By winning some Parliamentary seats, these arrogant and bigheaded leaders think that they have obtained the license to do anything they desire or deem fit and proper. The public is at the mercy of their whims and caprices.

It is not known how long the common people will go on tolerating this kind of hooliganism and atrocities on the part of handful rowdies with the backing of some politically motivated media without any protest.

MAMATA BANERJEE AND HER FILTHY LANGUAGE

It is an open secret that Mamata Banerjee has always been habituated in using offensive and filthy language against Jyoti Basu, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and other leaders of the Left Front and the CPI (M). She came to limelight by defacing a police officer in the eighties. Very recently she used objectionable words in respect of the existing Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal and the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata.

There are Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj, Jay Lalitha, Mayawati, Deepa Das Munshi, Ambika Soni, Shiela Dikshit and many women leaders in the country. But they never talk in the language, style and body language of Mamata Banerjee. All of them maintain as much soberness, decorum, etiquette and protocol as are possible in public life.

Her disciples and party leaders are also not less than her in any respect. A few glaring examples of the same are enough to substantiate the same.

Just on the eve of Parliamentary Elections, 2009 Shri Kalyan Banerjee, the then TMC Candidate, while addressing an election meeting at Serampore, Hooghly used most abusive and filthy language against Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal. The Election Commission of India was forced to reprimand him for the same.

Similarly, Tapas Paul, M.P., used dirty language against Congress Party while addressing a rally at Krishnanagar, Nadia. He termed Congress as “a dog licking the feet of CPI (M)”.

At about 1-30 a.m. on 14-10-2009 Soma Das and two other reporters of the Bengali TV News Channel “24 Ghanta” were brutally heckled and manhandled physically by the Central Ministers Mamata Banerjee and Mukul Roy, Purnendu Bose and Dola Sen, the last two being Naxalite leaders in front of the residence of modern Rasputin Subhaprasanna. During this on going, Mukul Roy called Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee by names of his father.

Again, Shri Sisir Adhikari, Minister of State, Government of India, took recourse to abusive and offensive language while addressing mass meeting on 21-10-2009.

There is no denying the fact that this use of language is prevalent in the underworld only. It is certainly not in keeping with the vocabulary and cultural heritage of Bengal.

As a matter of fact, Mamata Banerjee and her colleagues have introduced the language of the underworld in the politics of West Bengal without considering its dire consequences on the society and the future generation.

Their success in the recently held Parliamentary Elections and the support of some politically motivated media has emboldened them further.

It is increasingly being felt that if they are not taught a lesson immediately, the society has to pay high prices for the same in the future.

SOME WEST BENGAL MEDIA DEFEND MAOISTS

A section of media in West Bengal have raised their voice against the so-called “deceitful manner” in which Chatradhar Mahato, the dreaded anti-national Maoist terrorist responsible for the gruesome murder of hundreds of innocents, eviction of thousands of people and plunder and torching of their houses in Lalgarh and Jangalmahal areas of West Bengal, has been arrested by the police in the guise of journalists. They think that the action of the police has tarnished the image of their profession.

IS IT REALLY SO? HAS THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MEDIA LEFT ANY IMAGE IN THEIR PROFESSION?

Kishenji, one of the top Maoist leaders, has already declared that most of the media in the state are friendly to them. So, the criticism on the part of some media over the arrest of their murderous terrorist-turned-friend is very natural. But the pretext of condemnation is unnatural and ludicrous.

There is no denying the fact that some media in West Bengal think themselves to be the most appropriate successors of Dr. Joseph Goebbles, Propaganda Minister of Adolf Hitler, and above the Constitution as well as Law of the land and the Code of Ethics of Journalism & Media Guidelines evolved by the Press Council of India. They also believe that the cowardly acts of butchering unarmed poor tribals and innocent people by armed Maoists are justified, defensible, necessary, acceptable, reasonable and need of the day. So, this media never raised any protest against the terrorist outfits for butchering innocent people and unleashing a reign of terror and panic in Nandigram, Lalgarh, Jangalmahal and other areas of the state. On the other hand, they along with Mamata Banerjee and her rainbow alliance of TMC-Congress-SUCI-pseudo intellectuals always tried to prove unsuccessfully that the Maoists were never in Nandigram, Singur, Lalgarh, Jangalmahal and other Maoist infested areas and dismissed the fact as bogus and as a propaganda maneuvering of the CPI (M). But the cat has come out of the big. The presence of Maoists in Nandigram, Singur, Lalgarh, Junglemahal and other areas is as clear as broad daylight. So, now they have started to glorify and defend them in every possible manner as a part of their political strategy.

The media in West Bengal believes that they have the birth right to adopt any dubious or fraudulent method in their profession and approach anyone including antinational terrorist outfits, wood smugglers and abductors at anytime in the guise of any profession to glorify them as “national heroes” and “modern Robinhoods”. They have the fundamental right to write anything, whatsoever, in respect of any person or any organization that they do not like out of political considerations and professional compulsions. It does not matter whether it goes against the interests of the country or ethics of journalism. But others have no such right. The media people think that everything and every act stand fair and justified in their profession. They also think that the Maoist assassins, hired killers, extortionists, blackmailers and mercenaries have also the freedom to carry on all sorts of inhuman and barbarous anti-people and anti-national activities without any interruption from any quarter.

The Constitution of India gives editors and journalists the fundamental right to publish and print news or any kind of information and to comment and criticize on public affairs. It includes the right not to publish or comment as well. However, the freedom of the press is not absolute; neither is the freedom of expression.

The fundamental objective of journalism is to serve the people with news, views, comments and information on matters of public interest, in a fair, accurate, unbiased, sober and decent manner. Publication of inaccurate, baseless, graceless, misleading or distorted materials should be avoided. All sides of the core issue or subject should be reported.

Every single news and reporting in the media in West Bengal in respect of CPI (M) and the Left Front Govboernment is based on exaggerations, distortions of fact, slanderous campaign, untruthfulness, defamatory, derogatory and misleading imputations, inaccuracy, partiality, unfairness and indecency. If Hitler and/or his Propaganda Minister Dr. Joseph Goebbels were alive, they would have hung their heads in shame and traumatized to see that their successors in the media of the state have reached very far-off surpassing them in all matters of fraudulency, deception, dishonesty, distortion of facts, manufacture and concoction of false & fake news and reports, slanderous campaign, unfairness and what not.

Many people say that the media in West Bengal has already lowered the coffin of journalism into the grave.

So, their protest against the arrest of a dreaded Maoist on the pretext of ‘blots on their profession’ and attempt to create sympathy and compassion in his favour is not only unjustified, unnatural and unacceptable but also antinational.

Mark Twain had very rightly commented to the effect that:

“IT IS A FREE PRESS……THERE ARE LAWS TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS’S SPEECH, BUT NONE THAT ARE WORTH ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE FROM THE PRESS.”

WB MEDIA LAUNCHES TERROR ATTACK ON CPI (M)

The Constitution of India gives editors and journalists the fundamental right to publish and print news or any kind of information and to comment and criticize on public affairs. It includes the right not to publish or comment as well. However, the freedom of the press is not absolute; neither is the freedom of expression.

A compendium of broad principles evolved by the Press Council of India through its adjudications/principles was first published in 1983-84. In October, 1992, the Council published an updated but succinct compilation of the principles of journalistic ethics sorted out from the adjudication of the Council and the guidelines issued by it in their wake. The Guide of Journalistic Ethics was further revised and updated in 1995 by the then Chairman, Mr. Justice P.B. Sawant. Below are excerpts from the 1992 Guidelines.

1 The fundamental objective of journalism is to serve the people with news, views, comments and information on matters of public interest, in a fair, accurate, unbiased, sober and decent manner. Publication of inaccurate, baseless, graceless, misleading or distorted materials should be avoided. All sides of the core issue or subject should be reported.

2 Verification and checking of news before publication is necessary.

3 News of slanderous nature should be discarded.

4 News based on the report of an accredited correspondent should be discarded.

5 Unjustified rumours and surmises should not be set forth as facts.

6 Journalists should judge no one unheard.

7 Newspapers should not publish anything which is per se defamatory or libellous against any individual or organization.

8 Whenever a newspaper receives a report or article containing defamatory or derogatory imputations or comments against a public figure, public servant or public organization, touching his/her or its public conduct or character in so far as it appears in that conduct, the editor should, before publishing it, check with due care and attention, its factual accuracy apart from other authentic sources, with the person or the organization concerned to elicit his/her or its version, comments or reaction and publish the same.

9 This salutary rule of journalistic ethics and fairness follows as a necessary corollary from two basic principles:

a. The first is a fundamental canon of natural justice that no one should be condemned unheard.

b. The second is that freedom of the press is not merely a right of the publishers and editors but also of the readers’/peoples’ right to know all sides of an issue of public interest.

10 Newspapers should not present acts of violence and terrorist activities in a manner that glorifies these acts.

11 Newspapers should not pass on or elevate conjecture, speculation or comment as a statement of fact.

As a matter of fact, most of the media, both print and electronic, in West Bengal has always been very much biased and prejudiced against the C.P.I. (M), the Left Front and the Left Front Government. They never follow the minimum journalistic or the media ethics of the Press Council of India as enumerated above while publishing news in respect of CPI (M) and the Left Front Government. Now-a-days, their sole and only political aim is to instal Mamata Banerjee as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal by any how and at any cost. So, all their reporting is guided by this ultimate aim in mind. Every single news and reporting in respect of CPI (M) and the Left Front is based on distortions of fact, slanderous campaign, untruthfulness, defamatory, derogatory and misleading imputations, inaccuracy, partiality, unfairness and indecency. If Hitler and/or his Propaganda Minister Dr. Joseph Goebbels were alive, they would have hung their heads in shame and traumatized to see that their successors in the media of West Bengal have reached very very far-off surpassing them in all matters of fraudulency, deception, dishonesty, distortion of facts, manufacture and concoction of false & fake news and reports, slanderous campaign, unfairness and what not.

“Ananda Bazaar Patrika” is the leader and pioneer in this respect with ‘Star Anand’, ‘Bartaman’, ‘Pratidin’, ‘Sangbad’, “The Statesman” and others following it. Throwing all code of ethics of journalism and media guidelines to the winds, they are hell bent on disgracing, defaming, tarnishing and discrediting CPI (M) and its allies adhering to all sorts of polluted and desecrated methods.

The following are few of the glaring examples of their misdeeds.

(1) During Indo-China War, these media termed Communists as agents of China and tried to create public hysteria against them.

(2) During Indo-Pakistan War in 1965 and 1971 the media tried to term CPI (M) as the agent of Pakistan.

(3) The media created a hue and cry over the unfortunate incident at Rabindra Sarovar Stadium in 1967 and tried to slander CPI (M) and other Leftist parties saying that hundreds of women were raped and molested.

(4) A flood of concocted and fabricated stories were unleashed while reporting on the incident of Sain Bari at Burdwan.

(5) Most respected Forward Block leader Hemanta Bose was murdered by Naxalites in 1971. But the media tried to put the onus of the same on CPI (M).

(6) During 1969-1972 this media tried to glorify the Naxalites and justify the murder of hundreds of CPI (M) cadres by Congxals (Congress + Naxals).

(7) During Panchayat Election in 1998 this media spread concocted news that Chapala Sardar was raped by CPI (M) leaders in South 24, Parganas. Later it was proved false.

(8) During Nandigram episode this media spread fabricated false news that hundreds of women were raped and hundreds of minor children were murdered by CPI (M) cadres. But not even single case was proved true.

(9) Misusing the unfortunate death of Rizwanur Rahaman, they created unprecedented communal ill-feelings and hatred against CPI (M) and the Leftists during the last Parliamentary Elections.

(10) The media has been glorifying the Maoists in every possible manner and justifying their gruesome murder of CPI (M) cadres and leaders in Nandigram, Lalgarh, Jangalmahal and other areas.

(11) They have been justifying the violence perpetrated by the rainbow alliance of TMC-Congress-Maoists-SUCI in West Bengal on this or that plea.
They are in competition with one another as to who can manufacture, fabricate and concoctate fake and false news in respect of CPI (M) and the Leftist movement in West Bengal and the rest of the country. They are so much obsessed with anti-CPI (M) politics that even a slight rumour or gossip occupies headlines of their front pages.