Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network–Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Aug 21: “The value of a note was more than vote then. It has reached a state where votes can be counted by notes now. The society from Gandhiji to Jayaprakash Narayan was on heightened mentality of progress of the country soon after independence. But today politics is for the sake of politics,” said Mangaluru MIFT College director M G Hegde.
He was speaking in the seminar on the subject of ‘Politics and Journalism then and now’ held at Kundapur Board High School Narasimha auditorium on Sunday August 20.
“The inflow of money has increased today. Money has made the system corrupt stage by stage. Money has taken centre stage during elections. People were going behind parties then. They are following elected representatives now. Sincerity towards party has decreased and party defection has increased.”
“Political parties are politicizing power. The beautiful line between politics and system is broken. Commission business is in progress between Netravati diversion to Steel bridge. People look at MLAs like ATMs. But people do not know that people are ATMs for MLAs. There is scarcity of communication in politics today. Politicians only have tongue. Politics of thinking about the country is missing. The election system has become corrupt due to money,” he said.
State BJP spokesman Dr Vaman Acharya said, “There is history of thousands of years for political system. Balagangadhar Thilak gave a clear shape to politics. The contribution by Gandhiji by simple things is big. But politics after independence put forward subjects such as secularism that cannot be understood by people. It has become confusing to people even now. Indira Gandhi did politics on hunger. The country has seen Dalit politics, farmer politics, labour politics, caste politics. There was politics in the name of farmers but they are not helpful. Labour politics did not achieve progress. Problems of Dalits are not solved even after politics in the name of Dalits.”
“There should be progress in the development of the country. We should have far-sighted vision. Chanakya has supported politics several years ago. Politics should have strong force to develop the country,” he said.
Visiting professor, journalist Ishwar Daithota said that the background of journalism is community. “Mangaluru Samachara newspaper started in Mangaluru to give accurate news. There was trust in news then. Now false news is increasing in between news. There is unexpected change when compared to days of using radio after obtaining license and Doordarshan that came to Bengaluru in 1959. Digital technology has simplified media. There is scope for foreign investment in media also. The community has the responsibility of waking up when journalists fall. People have the responsibility to set right by writing to the leader of news,” he said.
Former MP, BJP leader Tejaswini Gowda said that change is possible by self conversion. “We should correct ourselves before rectifying the system. There is a need for leaders who take a stand for the country. We should elect such people. It has become a challenge to search for good representatives. Is it possible to manufacture patriotic people in factories?” he asked.
Kalakshetra president B Kishore Kumar welcomed and presented an introduction. Professor Vishwanath Karaba compered the programme. Rajagopal Mangaluru and group presented old film songs through musical instruments.