Indian mainstream media, especially TV news channels, is hardly known for nuances, and they appear to miss it even during tragedies. Media coverage of 2008 Mumbai Terror Attacks is the biggest example of their insensitive, irresponsible, and sensationalist reporting, which made a lot of people take to social media to register their protest.
And it seems, Indian media has not learnt its lessons ever since. Now they have been able to irritate and anger even non-Indians.
On Sunday, many Twitter users living in Nepal started hashtag #GoHomeIndianMedia to protest against such brand of reporting. Not only in Nepal, but this hashtag trended even in India.
From their tweets, it was obvious that the anger was against the sensationalist approach by media, and not against India:
#GoHomeIndianMedia is about Indian Media. It has nothing to do with Indian Government. Indian Government was the first to reach Nepal+
— Nepali Poet (@npPoet) May 3, 2015
Thank you for helping us to India. But back to the your media, we do not need here. #GoHomeIndianMedia @narendramodi
— अल्पविराम (@andpkrl) May 3, 2015
@narendramodi डियर PM of India आप अपना मिडिया बालोको अपने देश वापस बुलाकर हमें सहयोग कीजिए। हम लोग आपको शुक्रिया बोलेंगे #GoHomeIndianMedia
— Inspire Nepal (@V_R_7_7) May 3, 2015
we respect help & support provided by india and indians,yet cant tolerate the humiliation of #indianmedia #gobackindianmedia
— SanJay (@nyupsa) May 3, 2015
हम अाभार ब्यक्त कर्ते है,मोदी सरकार,भारतीय अार्मी अौर सब जो नेपाल कि दुख मे साथ अाए,सहयोग किय ।लेकीन ये न्युजवाले वन्दे #GoHomeIndianMedia
— फार्मेसीवाले (@juction4love) May 3, 2015
इन्डियन मिडिया ! यहाँ कुनै Final Destination फिल्मको शुटिङ्ग भैइरहेको छैन ! क्यामरा बोकेर धेरै तमासा नदेखाउ । #GobackIndianMedia
— अनुराग (@infected_heart9) May 3, 2015
Apart from insensitive (like asking injured persons ‘aapko kaisa lag raha hai’ type of questions) and sensationalist reporting, some users claimed that Indian media even ended up blocking relief operations and rescue work:
As per report,Indian Journos threatened Nepali Security at the Airport http://t.co/9qXKXX0jmS is it the reason for #GoHomeIndianMedia
— Nepali Poet (@npPoet) May 3, 2015
#GoHomeIndianMedia is trending because pic.twitter.com/eivy5UCYja
— Ishant Sharma (@CrimeMasterV2) May 3, 2015
However, among the “doyens” of Indian media, the hashtag was met either with denial or with cheap potshots at each other:
@sagarikaghose sorry. most of these tweets are by indians. in nepal, expect for some anti-india papers, there is support for indian tv.
— Dibang (@dibang) May 3, 2015
While the celeb journalists might differ with each other, Indians joined Nepalese citizens in bashing the Indian media for their attitude:
I’m with Nepalese tweeple trending #GoHomeIndianMedia. But want slight correction in the hashtag. #GoIndianMediaBackToYourHomesInPak
— iMac_too (@iMac_too) May 3, 2015
Dear nepalis brothers and sister indian media does not represent india we indians are with uh #GoHomeIndianMedia
— sailee (@saiu23) May 3, 2015
From Madison Square Garden to Katmandu, nothing causes more international embarrassment to India than Indian Media. #GoHomeIndianMedia trend
— Miss me yet? (@tweetingsourav) May 3, 2015
and such support from the Indian tweeters brought some smile to Nepalese citizens:
Oh wait ! They can’t go home ! They are not needed there as well ! #GoHomeIndianMedia
— सन्ध्या (@sandyy_3) May 3, 2015
Haha and even Indian people do not want to welcome you back #IndianMedias #GoHomeIndianMedia #FuckoffIndianmedias https://t.co/NKn3waM9oU
— Dipesh Pandit (@Thejuly23rd) May 3, 2015
Best thing I see in twitter is even Indians are writing ‘don’t comeback to India’ #GoHomeIndianMedia
— birat (@biratshar_lfc) May 3, 2015
Hope Indian media uses this opportunity to introspect and listen to the common man’s voices instead of deflecting responsibility or choosing to live in denial.
