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hAr-Har Mahadev! Har Har Modi! Echoes echoed from different parts of Varanasi and in the studios of TV news channels in distant Noida.
The salutation, in itself, said everything: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved virtual demonetisation – on television news – in his lifetime, a feat perhaps unparalleled for a political leader of a democracy.
It happened before our very eyes, earlier this week, and oddly enough, coincided with the Prime Minister’s comments lauding the contribution of saints to India’s freedom struggle. At the 98th birth anniversary celebrations of Sadguru Sadfaldev Maharaj on Tuesday, he said, “Whenever calamities arose, saints stood up to change their course…”.
As you watched and heard news channels in Varanasi over the past few days, you could imagine that he described himself as well: In the non-stop coverage, Modi emerged as a saint, savior and supreme leader. ,
It was described in different ways: from the way TV feeds, mostly DD News And used by all news channels, they are framed by headlines, comments from anchors or journalists. Together, they created the image of a visionary leader, deeply spiritual but secular in his actions, who walked alone – and ahead of others – who did what no one else could, and who won the ‘trust’ of the people. Was.
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Kashi Coverage
Modi was in his Lok Sabha constituency to inaugurate the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project, which connects the temple to the Ganges – he had laid the foundation stone for it in March 2019 – to visit the Kaal Bhairav temple, raise and lower the Ganga on the Alaknanda ferry. Greeting people before having Ganga Darshan Hindu ritual of worship In the evening. On Tuesday, Modi held a meeting with BJP chief ministers and visited Swarad Mahamandir in Varanasi for the birth anniversary of Sadafaldev.
Throughout Monday and most of Tuesday, news channels followed his awakening, and marveled at the miracles performed by him in the ‘shining temple city’ (CNN News 18,
“What Modi did is nothing short of a dazzle (Miracle),” announced the anchor on Times Now Navbharat, “Fantastic Kashi is back,” added CNN News 18. “Great achievement,” acknowledged one impress. NDTV 24×7 Anchor. Praises “Reincarnation and Renewal in Kashi” India Today. “Modi has fulfilled the dream,” all channels applauded.
Modi was portrayed as someone who kept faith. “Mother Ganga called and Modi fulfilled his vow,” said Till today With purity “Karmayogi in Kashi,” added India Today, a bit more prosaically, as scenes show Modi walking the red carpet, alone, bathed in a golden glow – ABP News It’s Modi’scolor of devotion,
“Last time I went to Varanasi 10 years ago, it’s unrecognizable now – Modi” made the impossible possible, ” one marveled India TV Anchor. “I’m from Varanasi and grew up there,” admitted News X Reporter. “Modi has left no stone unturned to rectify this…”
news nation Led several news channels in asking residents of Varanasi how they feel about the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project and the transformation of their city. “I’m a local, and it’s like a dream come true,” commented one person.
“There’s a spirit inside,” revealed another, holding onto the area near his heart, where he, presumably, believed his spirit to reside.
Another person took a longer, political view: “An issue that is centuries old, which no PM has done in 70 years, Modi has done,” he said in surprise. “What Modi did, we could not even have imagined,” said a young man. ABP News, Tuesday.
With such lavish praise – and there was no end to it – there was live coverage of Modi in different camera shots: ‘Modi’dip (Dip)’ In the Ganges, Modi is worshiping at the Kaal Bhairav temple, Modi in prayer, Modi inspecting the corridor, Modi waving the boat to people waiting to catch a glimpse of him on the banks of the river – “Shiva Parmanand in the position of the devotee” is as follows India Today Described in one phase – Modi on an unscheduled stroll through the streets of Varanasi, greeting dazed passers-by and pinching a child’s cheek, during the Modi surprise at the railway station after a midnight visit – Modi’s Long shots, close ups of Modi, ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’ rose above the slogan of the people everywhere (DD News),
“Earlier, Hindus were reluctant to declare their faith,” Ramdev claimed in an interview. News 18 India, Now Hindus say Proud (Proud) – and that is all because of Modi.”
“Modi is not here just for darshan,” explained Times Now Navbharat As the Prime Minister sailed along the river and gazed thoughtfully at the horizon, “He is here to show the world why he should be here.”
And thus it went on every hour, from morning till evening and again into the night. You could hear chants, bhajans, voices of devotees in the background. “Modi has exposed Hindu identity,” said the anchor NDTV 24×7.
Till evening, there was debate on religion, Hindu and Hindutva politics and who should get ‘credit’ for Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project after Samajwadi Party Claimed It started to improve.
Read also: How is the story of ‘Yogi’s victory’ spreading in UP? ask mauli
Modi’s progress
But all that was mundane, a mundane battle between ‘petty’ politicians. A few months before the 2020 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Modi was raised over such matters by news channels and his excessive coverage of his visit.
Will this kind of TV coverage guarantee BJP a ‘shining’ victory in the elections? as per latest ABP News In the opinion poll (December 12), the BJP is set to win between 212-224 seats, but in its snap poll on December 14, 53 per cent of the respondents said that the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project will go a long way towards helping the party in the polls. will decide the way.
It may or may not be so, but one thing is for sure: TV news has filled Modi with a mythical status and spiritual aura that no one can challenge.
As far as real news goes, it can take care of itself…
Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)
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