A quote often attributed to English author George Orwell defines journalism as printing what someone else does not want printed, and everything else as public relations. If one tracks how the alleged lynching of Aasif Babu Multani by cow vigilantes in Bhilwara was reported in the media, one would wonder if the Indian legacy media believes the contrary — that they should not report what the powers that be want swept under the carpet.
Aasif Babu Multani (35), also known by Sheru Susadiya, a resident of Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, was allegedly assaulted in the most brutal manner by ‘gau-rakshaks’ in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara on the intervening night of September 15-16. There was no report on this by the mainstream media in the next five days.
Quoting the Washington-based research group India Hate Lab, the BBC reported earlier this year that instances of hate speech against minorities jumped 74% in India in 2024, and Muslims were the target of over 98% of those. Alt News documented how the BJP’s entire Lok Sabha 2024 election campaign stood on falsehoods, disinformation and communal hate with which the party sought to create propaganda in its favour. This was led by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.