India

People in Madhya Pradesh in Central India will go to the polls next week for an assembly election.

Both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party are wooing voters with promises... from smartphones for students to employment for young people.

And for the first time ever, the two major political parties in the world’s largest democracy, are making election promises to journalists.

The BJP has announced in their election manifesto that they will provide laptops to all accredited journalists in the state, plus plots of land and houses at concessional rates... after they come to power.

The opposition Congress Party has also made similar promises. They also promises to put regular advertisement for small newspapers in the future.

Congress Party spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi justifies the decision.

“We treat journalism as the fourth pillar of democracy. We treat journalism like any other profession. We want to give them respect in society. There is no harm in giving them concessional plots and houses. We always believe in empowering journalists and that is why we have decided to include these things in our manifesto.”

“This is our social responsibility.”

But media analyst, ND Sharma, believes that the parties are making direct offers to journalists... something that has never been a practice in India.

He says the Election Commission should do something about it.

“I think we would have welcomed it, if they had announced  a broad policy for journalists which encourages an environment where they can work freely.  But here they are directly offering enticements to journalists in the form of laptops and other things. I think it’s not at all good for journalism. I think the Election Commission of India should look into it, as journalists are in a position to influence others.”

Independent journalist Amitabh Pandey feels that the practice should stop.

“On the one hand, the Election Commission of India  has been trying hard to check paid news. But on the other hand, the two political parties are directly offering bribes to journalists through their manifestos, which should not be allowed.”

Earlier this year the Indian Supreme Court said that political parties should not promise freebies to voters as it would “shake the roots of free and fair polls”.

The Court has asked the Election Commission to introduce stricter guidelines for election manifestos.

But politicians say there’s nothing wrong with promises of freebies to voters in election manifestos as it does not go against the constitution.

Shirish Khare is a journalist with India’s leading news magazine Tehelka. He says many journalists in the media are working under difficult conditions, with low wages and long working hours.

He says some of his colleagues would be very tempted to take a laptop.

“These politicians are corrupting us with such promises. They are treating journalists as commoners and announcing schemes for us. In a democratic society it should not be acceptable. If I accept a laptop I cannot write anything against them.”

Senior journalist, Rakesh Diwan, says in a country like India where there’s rampant corruption, politicians should leave journalists alone.

“The politicians are trying to corrupt the media through these means. There is no need for this. If the government wants to give anything to journalists then they should ensure a better environment for the media.”