Giridih: The allegation of sloganeering Pakistan Zindabad during the nomination rally of a Mukhiya candidate that resulted in the arresting of five people including the candidate himself is a classic case of India’s one-sided journalism that dishes out stories without verifying facts.
Even after four days of the incident, no mainstream media, which ran the video without even using the word ‘allegedly’, reached out to the families of the accused to know their version of the story.
On Sunday, the villagers who were present during the campaign rally for Mohammed Shakir Hussain claimed that there was no sloganeering of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ done by them, which had been shown in a viral video and on the basis of which Jharkhand police arrested Shakir Hussain and four others.
49-year-old Shakir has been an active social worker in the Dokodih Panchayat, 25 kilometers from the district headquarters. His family claims he has connections with all political leaders. His wife Saleha Khatoon has been the Mukhiya too. The panchayat got a National Panchayat Award 2020 under her leadership.
During the ongoing panchayat election in Jharkhand, the seat has been unreserved. Hence, this time Shakir decided to contest for the position. On April 20, he filed his nominations.
After he filed his nominations, in the evening, News 18 Bihar-Jharkhand ran a video claiming ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ was chanted when Shakir entered the block office, which was also the nomination center. The channel also claimed that neither the candidate nor police personnel deputed before the center objected to the sloganeering.
Later from Zee News, Aaj Tak, Dainik Jagran, India TV, Times Now, Hindustan, NDTV, New Indian Express, India Today, Nav Bharat Times, First Post, Republic Bharat to Dainik Bhaskar all ran the video, without even mentioning the word ‘allegedly’ in their report.
Giridih Police also did not delay in registering a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code including but not limited to Section 124A (sedition) and Section 153A (disturbing public peace). And arrested the mukhiya candidate and four others.
However, when eNewsroom reached the Dokodih panchayat and talked to the locals, they refuted the allegations.
