Mainstream media targets Hindus, paints Temple foundation ceremony a ‘waste of resources’

New Delhi – After silence over the senseless cutting of trees during Christmas, the mainstream media has suddenly rediscovered its voice for ‘rationality’ and ‘reason’. The subject of its ire this time around is a ritual observed by Hindus in Rajasthan. ‘Hindustan Times’ journalist Aabshar H Quazi harangued Hindus over the foundation ceremony of Devnarayan temple to be constructed in Ratlai region of Jhalawar District.

Although Quazi refrains from overtly insulting Hindus, the tone and tenor makes abundantly clear what the motive of the reports is. There is a subtle demeaning slant throughout the entire report that is hard to miss. ‘Hindustan Times’ attempts to show the Hindus in poor light because they chose to perform the ceremony as per their religious beliefs.

The report says that milk, desi ghee and curds totalling 11,000 litres were used in the ceremony. The cost this amounted to about Rs. 1.5 lakh. Then Quazi proceeded to ask Mr. Ramlal, the Convenor of the function, ‘if the exercise did not seem like a gargantuan waste of resources’. It is a bizarre question that wouldn’t have been posed to Ramlal if he were a believer of any other religion. It is hard to imagine a journalist walking up to a Muslim man on the verge of slaughtering a goat on Eid and questioning him if he were feeling guilty about forcing the animal through such cruelty.

Ramlal answered the question as any devout Hindu would – “It is not at all a waste as in Gujjar community we pour some milk on Deity Devnarayan as it protects our cattle”, he said.

East Mojo, Times Now, etc. also criticised the incident. Clearly, the mainstream media feels perverse joy in mocking Hindus for their religious beliefs and spreading negativity during Hindu festivals. Now, it appears, it is no longer limited to festivals alone but has also transgressed into the territory of ordinary Hindus performing religious ceremonies according to their customs.