As the farmer protests along Delhi’s borders have gathered momentum over the past week, resentment has bubbled against the media. As Newslaundry reported this week, the farmers are angry with sections of the mainstream media, especially the TV news channels Republic TV, Zee News and Aaj Tak, for seeking to discredit the protests. They have been shouting slogans against “Godi Media”, even chasing away reporters.
As is inevitable these days, the anger against “Godi Media” has spilled over onto social media. On Thursday, the hashtag #kisanvirodhimedia, or anti-farmer media, trended on Twitter. It was used alongside hashtags #SpeakUpForFarmers, #TakeBackFarmLaws, and #Tractor2Twitter to condemn the coverage of the protests by the mainstream media.
#किसान_विरोधी_मीडिया
— Md Aurangzeb Misbahi 2.8 k(% fb) (@Aurang902) December 3, 2020
How does demanding for MSP equals to demanding Khalistan? Are there any links between two? Godi media will do everything to defame them but will not question govt.
Those who used the hashtag included prominent personalities such as Ramkishan Ojha, general secretary of the Maharashtra Congress.
किसानों के लड़के भी सड़कों पर अपनो के साथ परंतु सरकार व मीडिया किसके साथ ? हे जुल्मी ज़ोर क़ितना बाजूओ में आजमां कर तो देख।#farmersagitation #किसानविरोधीमीडिया #किसान_विरोधी_कानून_वापस_लो pic.twitter.com/l0fCuL7X7R
— Ramkishan Ojha (@RamkishanO) December 3, 2020
The singer-songwriter Diljit Dosanjh did not use the hashtag, but he criticised “national media” for referring to the farmers as “terrorists”.
Eh Terrorists Lagde Ne Tuanu ?
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) December 2, 2020
National Media Waleyo Akal nu Hath Maro Kush Bolan Ton Phelan..#farmerprotest #Standwithfarmerschallenge pic.twitter.com/1eCcymzuPM
Newslaundry is reporting extensively on the protests and the anger among the farmers against sections of the media. Here’s a sampler of our coverage:
‘I am fighting betrayal’: Meet the farmers marching on Delhi
‘Media has lost our trust’: Why protesting farmers are angry with ‘Godi media’
Farmer protests have some lessons for the national media
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