Importance of Media during the Internal Conflict

Media, especially the growing digital platforms are playing extraordinary roles in constructing the thought of the masses. Mass, in turn, is crucial for pressurizing the government of the time to take action. Today when there are high emotions within the country, the situation is rather sensitive. People are reactive to small acts and could commit to extremes. There is a thin line between right and wrong. It is the intellectual power of the whole country and the administrative control of the state which will re-establish the peace. The state must not take time to respond and the experts should extrapolate the situation to bring the necessary short term changes, even if it leads to calling a National Emergency, or banning internet or a particular platform in the public interest. It is to be seen that the mass does not go with the stereotypes. India has seen such acts in the past during the time of Anti-Sikh movements in 1984, 2002 Godhra riots etc.

This also exposes the sham role of the international community who are largely dependent on the internet. They may end up in feeding to a particular section of the information or the propaganda ignoring completely the other side. While I could scroll the various comments of a particular post on the internet, it is clear how the people are catching up with the surface information. While the people at the ground are the army persons, civilians who know the best of the situation, everyone else apart from them are talking. It is so disturbing to see that a 20-year suicide bomber is appreciated. Can we not see that he is just a child who is terribly radicalized?

There might be some cases of the targeting of the Kashmiris; the whole nation cannot be blamed. There are many responsible people who work to call peace and spread calm is largely subdued. I think this is yet another side of the social media which depends on the non-credible source of information and spread more hatred instead of actually helping the people at the ground. India is a large demographic both in terms of population and area. India has been united for years & will remain one.