The Congress party has released a scathing advertisement targeting sections of the mainstream media, particularly Republic TV and its chief Arnab Goswami. In the ad, a satirical take on Goswami's style of reporting, the anchor is depicted heaping praises on the government while sitting between two politicians.
As the camera zooms out, it reveals the anchor sitting on the laps of the politicians, symbolizing the cosy relationship between certain media outlets and the government.
Accompanied by a voiceover declaring, "Agar media Godi mein baithi rahi, na samvidhan rahega, na loktantra" (If the media remains sitting on the lap, there will be neither constitution nor democracy), the advertisement takes a direct swipe at the perceived bias in certain media channels towards the ruling party.
The ad also takes a dig at a recent controversial BJP advertisement where a woman purportedly credits Prime Minister Narendra Modi with halting the Ukraine-Russia war. With a ticker reading "Papa ne war rukwa di" (Dad stopped the war), the Congress ad mocks the BJP's narrative while criticizing the media for allegedly giving cover to the government on issues such as price rise.
In a humorous yet pointed manner, the anchor in the advertisement claims that under the current government's leadership, petrol and diesel prices have plummeted to the extent that people are using them instead of water, and a few pennies are sufficient to buy essential commodities like milk and vegetables. The exaggerated - and satirical - claims highlight the perceived disconnect between media narratives and ground realities.
Furthermore, the ad sarcastically suggests that obtaining an Indian passport is now sufficient for international travel, implying an inflated sense of achievement under the current administration. The portrayal of the rupee's value "skyrocketing" to the point where a rocket had to be deployed to bring it down adds to the satirical tone, underscoring the disconnect between rhetoric and reality.
As the studio set is dismantled towards the end of the video, the camera reveals the anchor sitting on the laps of the two politicians, reminiscent of the cosy relationships between certain media figures and political leaders. The scene where the anchor repeats "mujhe bakshish do" (give me a tip), akin to Goswami's controversial "mujhe drugs do" segment, further underscores the critique of media sensationalism and bias.
This news story has been inspired by a report published in Newslaundry