Media Coverage on Vienna Attack – How fair?
I was talking to my friend over chat today and we started discussing about the situation in Punjab and the media coverage being done in regard to same. Most of international media is giving almost a completely wrong aspect of what the actual situation is. some of the things which came forward were :
Major inaccurate reporting of Vienna story that has serious implications for Sikhs World wide.
1. There have been reports covered of ‘Sikh Guru Killed in Vienna‘ by world media, however it is clear and evident that in Sikhism, we have no living sikh guru and Sikh Community follows the word of ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’. The concern lies not only with wrong communication being published by National and International Press but then online community follows their linkbacks for their views and opinions which have adds as catalyst to report things wrong.
2) Clearly as the reports come from Vienna, this is not an inter caste incident. It’s an issue stemming from differences within Ravidasi Community. Ravidasi is a separate religion, who follow ‘Sri Guru Ravidas,’ and have their presence across the globe and majority of population resides in punjab and both the priests ‘Sant Niranjan Dass Ji and Sant Rama Nand Ji are both from ’Sri Guru Ravidas Sabha’ and the attack was from the radical elements of the same community.
3) The name of priest who was shot and later passed away is ‘Sant Rama Nand.’ Other Saint, ‘Sant Niranjan Das’ ji is under treatment in Vienna and in stable condition. A query which comes in picture is that If they were Sikhs, they would have name ‘Singh’ . The Sikh community is equally disturbed with such attack on Sant Ji but wrong projections in media are completely creating a misunderstanding by mixing the sects and communities without reconfirming the things being reported to them by various citizen journalists and other resources.
4) Negative media coverage : After reading and doing some research on coverage of attacks, its been clearly seen that reports of Violence, Fire, Tension have been headlines may be because they sell.. but considering the fact the sensitivity of issue and communication gap between two places at official level, its very easy for rumors to spread and news of fire, riots completely negate all the peace appeals that are being made from leaders of community, religious sects and people leading the state.
Clearly, there is a clear gap between the facts and the news available and if any action can be taken is only Now. These stories will get buried in some time and then will no more be discussed. Now when body of ‘Sant Rama Nand Ji’ will be brought from Vienna to India, there will be tension all around and again Media will act as major element to increase/decrease the sense of fear and fright in Punjab. Which way we want it to go?
Some of the points have been discussed here. What do you think about this and what have been your reactions on this, do share in comments.
i tend to agree with the assessment that the media is not covering this issue accurately. it’s often the case with the indian media that they go for big headlines, distorting the truth in order to get more viewers. the fact is, my friends and family in punjab have seen no violence at all from sikhs. even the news reports clearly show only clean-shaven ravidassi vandals doing all of the violence, with no sikh seen in the images. and now people are calling for the akali dal (badal) party to step down from punjabi leadership… it’s all starting to seem like a political stunt.
also interesting that so-called “terrorists” babbar khalsa are condemning the violence. makes you wonder who the real terrorists are.
Isn`t is a Co-incident that Last time when Akali Party just won, punjab burns in roits between Sikh and saccha sauda Dera. They were nicely done by Parkash singh badal to teach Saccha sauda guys a lession for decieving them in votes. This time Akali party lost and again there are roits between sikh and another dera.
What do you make it out of it?
Thanks for the post and the clarifications. However, one thing I am not sure about, are you suggesting the killings in Vienna were not carried out by Sikhs? We have seen similar violence erupt between the two communtiies in India. I think you are stretching the fact as well by saying this was carried out by radical elements of the dera’s.
We all know our sikh community lacks tolerance, No matter how strong the disagreements are this is no way to conduct one’s self in the civilized world – take a gun and do the justice, plain wrong and we all should condemn it rather than stating “not our fault”
I Think, The attack on Sant Ramanand & Sant Niranjan Dass Show narrow mindness of Sikh Community .
If SGPC and All Sikh except the fact That Shri Guru Ravidass Ji is “SATGURU” then it does not happen.
In sukhmani sahib it is clearly written that satpurukh jin janiye satguru tis ka nau then why sikh are not accepting the fact.
It is Their choice what they called to his guru. Their is no need to become licencing authority by sikhs.
Their are two gurudwaras in all area of Punjab. One belong to sikh community and one to satguru ravidass community. Why So?
Both gurudwara is enlightened with Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.
All this is Political game Playing by So called Dharam ke Thekedaar of Sikh Community. Sikh community is one of the loveable community in world. Why they are loosing their respect by doing all this?
It is my thinking That Sikh community has not to interfere in the matter of Guru Ravidass Community. I like sikh community who is the real follower of his gurus.
“Jio or Jine Do”
this is an awesum blog..
lot of research has been done and the presentation with true facts is worth readind!