From Watergate to throwing muddy waters

My generation of journalists grew up reading the Watergate scandal that led to the downfall of US President Richard Nixon. Inspired by it, Indian media dubbed all scams as one gate or the other, including the Coalgate. But not many have taken the snoopgate to its logical end. In a country where the Aadhar data is compromised, any other snoop is treated insignificantly. Phone tapping falls under this category.

To quote Washington Post, for authenticity, “Late at night on Friday, June 16, 1972, a group of five men hired by Hunt and Liddy broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The DNC offices were located in the Watergate complex—five buildings holding offices, apartments, and a hotel in Washington, D.C. The plan was for the five men to plant eavesdropping devices and copy important DNC files, with Hunt and Liddy keeping watch from the Watergate Hotel. But thanks to a night watchman who alerted the police, the burglars were caught and taken to jail.”

Attacks on privacy should be taken as an attack on democracy and freedom. If Pegasus spyware catches my bedroom behaviour and transmits it, can I ignore it? If a private citizen’s privacy is invaded, what happens to the confidentialities of a government? The more you think of it, the more mind-boggling it becomes.

We have read all those phone tapping cases during the so-called 2G scam more as dramatic incidents as they involved the celebrities and not out of any seriousness about the entire issue. The question of who tapped these phones for what remained unanswered much as the 5Ws and 1H get neglected in today’s reporting. This may sound a bit out of context, but I must point out that even a leading English daily reported the passing away of one of its ex-managing editors without mentioning How did he die – the cause of death. I would have got a wrap on my knuckles if I ever typed such incomplete stories.

Back to the relevant issue of snooping, what is now called hacking.

The alert sounded by Apple to several opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Mahua Moitra, Shashi Tharoor, KTR and Sitaram Yechuri, that their phones are "being targeted by state-sponsored attackers". It gave no further detail but as the opposition and the government clashed over the issue and some independent journalists blasted the BJP, Apple said late on Tuesday that the alert could be a case of a false alarm. But the moot question that remained unanswered was as to how come only the top, select opposition leaders received these alerts.

While Apple has inbuilt the security system to enhance its credibility, the massive uproar creates a disquiet.

Rahul Gandhi was quick to point out that whenever he raises questions about crony capitalism, the BJP dispensation attempts such diversionary tactics. The youth is being misled in different directions so as to drive them away from the main issues being faced by them and the nation, he said.

TV anchor-turned-Youtuber Ravish Kumar says the BJP government and the media that it pocketed keeps their audience happy with religious talk and nobody finds time to focus on serious issues that matter in people’s lives such as jobs, price rise, environment and so on.

This is a very sad state of affairs.

The Vice President’s post is a much-valued constitutional position. Plus, he is the Rajya Sabha Chairman maintaining decorum. One does not expect him to speak as the ruling party’s leader. We have never seen any VP talking about politics. Even the last Vice President Venkaiah Naidu spoke about Lord Shriram only as a Maryada Purushottam. But the political colour in the present Vice President’s speech on the Ekta Divas has raised many an eye-brow.

Sample this from a PIB press release: Referring to 'AmritKaal' as our 'GauravKaal,' which has been brought to fruition through 'Kartavya Kaal,' the Vice-President highlighted that 'Transparency, Accountability, and Achievement' have now become the new norm in the country. “Power corridors, once infested by corruption and power-brokers, have now been fully sanitised, and this is a big milestone achievement,” he added.

The Prime Minister continues to chant his favourite lines, “during the last nine years…” and the Amrit Kal. Now, it is curtains down for Amrit Kal Carrot, but he launched a new platform called Mera Yuva Bharat or MY Bharat.

Whatever the occasion, Modi’s speeches do not end without attacking the opposition.

At Ekta Divas celebrations from Kevadia, the location of the Statue of Unity, Modi pointed out that the largest hurdle in the development journey of India is the politics of appeasement and it has been witnessed for the last several decades. So far so good. Then he went on to say that those indulging in appeasement politics also turn a blind eye towards terrorism and stand with the enemies of humanity.

“We have to always continue our efforts to maintain the unity of the country to achieve the goal of a developed India. Whatever field we are in, we have to give our 100 percent in it. This is the only way to give a better future to the coming generations”, he said.

In the same breath, cautioned against the (opposition) faction which is totally devoid of positive politics and indulging in anti-social and anti-national activities.

On international platforms such as G20, Modi speaks of inclusive growth and all voices working in unison, but when it comes to India, all federal principles and inclusive governance are thrown to the winds. Sab Ka Saath remains limited to only those who toe the BJP line.