Deccan Chronicle, on Thursday, ran a story on Indian Army’s proposal of allowing civilians join the Armed Forces for three years. While the report itself was devoid of any jibes, the headline took a dig at the ‘bhakts’ suggesting that now is the time for supporters of Prime Minister Modi, who are often referred to as ‘bhakts’ (devotees) or ‘andh bhakts’ (blind followers) condescendingly by a certain section of media and politicians, to join the Army.
Congress supporters soon hailed Deccan Chronicle for its ‘fantastic’ headline and also expressed fear that the ‘Sanghis’ might now ‘infiltrate’ the army.
Some even saw this as a sign that the print media has ‘credibility’.All jokes aside the idea of a Bhakth army sounds like a nightmare reminiscent of the nazi’s to me.
— Kavita Thomas ?? ?? (@KavitaThomas) May 14, 2020
At Least print media has managed to retain some credibility in this mad race of media houses, but few of them are completely into finishing it off.
— :आत्मनिर्भर: ठाकुर बलदेव सिंह (@RamgarhWaala) May 14, 2020
This can’t be language of a national news daily.
Meanwhile, PM Modi’s supporters took the jibe in their stride and used the taunt as proof that only the ‘bhakts’ could actually serve the nation and be ready to die for the motherland.
So Deccan Chronicle agrees that people who love India are bhakts pic.twitter.com/L4ceHEL1CW
— desi hindu mojito (@desimojito) May 15, 2020
Deccan chronicle, thanks for accepting the fact that only Bhakts do desh seva, rest are anyways just doing drama and dance. pic.twitter.com/LCRyYH7GiB
— आर.एम (@runjhunmehrotra) May 15, 2020
However, a day later, despite appreciation from Congress supporters, Deccan Chronicle has quietly removed the ‘bhakt’ jibe from its headline.
The quietly updated headline now reads “Army proposes three-year Tour of Duty for citizens”.
The Game of Headlines
AajTak had recently displayed Hinduphobia by dragging Karwa Chauth in a report on violence in a Muslim household. The headline stated that a husband had severed his wife’s tongue on the day of ‘Karwa Chauth’ when the perpetrator and the victim, both, were non-Hindus. Similarly, earlier NDTV had to change its headline after its dishonesty was caught on Twitter.
