For the Govt-controlled Media Academy, Pro-Hamas journalist is the ‘Media Person of The Year’
Kochi, Kerala (VSK).
Kerala Media Academy, Kochi, the reputed college of journalism, controlled by the state government, has selected Wael Al-Dahdouh as the “Media Person of The Year”. Selection is reported to be on the basis of the recommendations by Investigative Journalist Association and the Media Magazine Editorial Board.
The selection raises several questions about this ‘journalist’. He is the Gaza Bureau Chief of Al Jazeera TV. He is reported to be the “media man” of the terrorist Hamas and who always make it a point to glorify the outfit. Apparently, he did not come to Kochi to accept the Award in person. However, this gesture from the Media Academy, controlled by the (CPM-led Left Democratic Front) government, is viewed by the observers as an appeasement, vote bank gesture.
Prize money is Rs 1 lakh, for the man who reportedly operates media activity for the terrorist outfit Hamas.
It is to be remembered that it was CPM, leftist media persons and Popular Front of India who were arguing for the PFI man Siddique Kappan when he was arrested in Uttar Pradesh owing to the allegation of anti-national activities. Similarly, man who carries out media operations for Hamas gets award. This ‘award’ also is again the left tactic of appeasement politics.
Plight the people of Gaza suffer is known to all. It is a well-known fact that the peaceful atmosphere in Gaza was torn into pieces by Hamas when they unleashed missile attacks against Israel in October 2023. Still the people, with vested interests, flatter Hamas as the sole representatives of the people of Gaza. They conveniently forget that Hamas is linked with ISIS. The awardee did not come to Bharat to receive the award. But, still left strategists believe that they can capitalize the award declaration in the imminent Lok Sabha polls.
There are people who ask if the country is in dearth of competent journalists. Any one worth his salt will agree to the argument that we lack efficient journalists. So, what is the motive behind the declaration of this award?
When Israel – Hamas war broke out, CPM leaders had unleashed attacks against Israel. They were not ready to see Palestine and Hamas separately. For them, both constitute a single entity. It is an undisputed fact that Bharat has always stood for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. But, the war against Israel was started by Hamas terrorists. Both ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front and opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front have been competing each other in blaming Israel, forgetting that Hamas launched the first missile.
One CPM leader reportedly went to the extent of saying that “no matter what Hamas did, we should stand with them”.
In May 2021, when Soumya Santosh, a Keralite who worked in Israel, was killed in Hamas’s missile attack, late Oomen Chandy, former CM and Congress senior leader, had amended his condolence message to make sure that Hamas’s name is avoided. Media reports had suggested that CM Pinarayi Vijayan also opted not to blame Hamas.
The award to the pro-Hamas journalist is to be viewed from this angle. The same people were in the forefront of organizing “Cutting South” Seminar last year. There were allegations that the seminar was sympathetic to the people who argue for the division of the country into North and South.
