Operation Janmabhoomi by Cobrapost – Lobbying of Investigative Journalism?

Cobrapost has came up with a new sting – Operation Janmabhoomi. This sting claims to expose the real reason behind the demolition of Babri Masjid. 23 people who were supposed to be the hand  behind the activity were interviewed.

These 23 people are B.L. Sharma Prem, Dharmendra Singh Gurjar, Jai Bhagwan Goyal, Pawan Pandey, Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya, Santosh Dubey, Swami Sachidanand Sakshi Maharaj, Mahant Ram Vilas Vedanti, Ramji Gupta, Ramesh Pratap Singh, Sadhavi Ritambhara, Sadhavi Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Kalyan Singh, Prakash Sharma, Champat Rai Bansal, Satish Pradhan, Mahant Avaidyanath, Acharya Dharmendra, Moreshwar Save, Lallu Singh, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Swami Nritya Gopal Das.

Cobrapost’s Operation Janmabhoomi sting has revealed that the demolition was planned by the “top level personnel” – a news that could have an affect on the way people will vote. One of the interesting piece of the sting is that the stalwarts L K Advani and even the then PM P V Narasimha Rao knew of plot.

However, my intention of writing this article is not to explain what is there in the sting(reading the same at cobrapost would be a better idea), but the INTENTION of the this expose. Here are a few points I would like to draw attention to:- 

TIMING

This is an obvious point. When we are a few hours before the first voting, why is this time chosen? Is it an agenda based operation?

People Involved in Sting/Cobrapost

• K. Ashish, Associated Editor of Cobrapost

Ashish Khetan, is Aam Aadmi Party Candidate. He has been fielded by AAP from New Delhi. See Story related to this on IBN7.

Interesting to note that he was the person involved in “snoopgate” operation also which allegedly attacked the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

In addition, it will be relevant information at this point of time that he has worked in Tehelka, where he has done another sting against Gujarat Govt. Presently, Tarun Tejpal of Tehelka has been send behind bars for his alleged  sexual assault against a woman journalist.

• Aniruddha Bahal, founder and editor of Cobrapost

He co-founded Tehelka Magazine alone with Tarun Tejpal. He was one of the 2 reporters who carried out Operation West Land, where some defense officials and NDA leaders were caught inking deal in defense contracts.

Interestingly, there were no sting he carried against the dozens of scams which came against UPA Government.

 Track record (Old Stings)

•  Operation Duryodhana:- 

A sting operation where 11 member of parliament were were captured on camera accepting bribe to table questions in the parliament. Out of 11 members involved, 7 were from BJP and just 1 from Congress, rest others!!

• The Stalkers

Better known as SnoopGate, Cobrapost along with the website Gulail claimed in tapes BJP leader stalked a woman for his saheb.

• Operation West End

Defense deal involving BJP leaders

• Red Spider

Involved some Banks and claimed that they did money laundering. No political motives here.

• Operation Blue Virus

 Stinged some IT companies and claimed that Narendra Modi is famous in the cyber world as he is getting help from these IT companies who make fake fans for him.

There might be some others as well. The motto of me writing this article is that are our investigative journalists acting as political mouthpiece? Why do only 1 party gets affected by a particular media organization?

Even if this is acceptable, how much credibility should be taken when such media houses are doing sting operations attacking 1 person/party just days before elections? Is it ethical? What is the take of Election Commission on such activities? This operation has raised a series of such questions which need an answer.

Finally, I would like to add a point that trying to bring burning topics like this in a time when elections are talking more about development and less about religion and that too by people who are in political outfits is giving us a new low at a time when we are raising above the old issues.