Rajasthan Patrika: A Biased Voice for the BJP Government

Introduction: Rajasthan Patrika, a prominent Hindi newspaper, has long been accused of favoritism towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the center. Its editorial stance consistently leans in favor of the BJP government, influencing the opinions of its readers and voters across the country.

Silence on Key Issues: Despite being a watchdog of democracy, Rajasthan Patrika remains conspicuously silent on critical matters that are detrimental to the interests of the BJP government. Issues like the controversial electoral bonds and the frequent raids conducted by agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on opposition leaders are conveniently ignored.

Targeting Opposition Leaders: The newspaper's bias is glaringly evident in its relentless targeting of opposition leaders, often for trivial reasons. It openly criticizes opposition parties while turning a blind eye to the missteps of the BJP government, including scandals like the electoral bonds scheme.

Justification of Raids and Misuse of Agencies: Rajasthan Patrika goes to great lengths to justify the raids and misuse of investigative agencies like the CBI and the ED against opposition leaders. It defends the undemocratic arrests and portrays them as necessary measures to uphold law and order.

Failure to Address Common Concerns: Issues that directly affect the common man, such as inflation, rising petrol prices, high taxation rates like GST, and alarming unemployment rates among the youth, are rarely discussed in the newspaper. This neglect reflects a lack of concern for the real struggles faced by ordinary citizens.

Selective Reporting During COVID-19 Crisis: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rajasthan Patrika unabashedly sided with the government, downplaying its mishandling of the crisis. When Dainik Bhaskar courageously reported on the government's negligence, Rajasthan Patrika swiftly launched attacks on its fellow media outlet. Even when income tax raids targeted Dainik Bhaskar's offices, Rajasthan Patrika shamelessly supported the action.

History of Rajasthan Patrika

Karpoor Chandra Kulish was born in 1926 in Soda village, Rajasthan's Tonk taluka. He began his career as a clerk in 1951 at Rashtradoot, one of the state's oldest newspapers founded by Pandit Hazarilal Sharma. According to a post by the Patrika Foundation on LinkedIn, Kulish soon started taking on various roles at the newspaper, including handling the magazine, editing, reporting, and writing a weekly column using the pen name 'Ghumakkar'.

After five years, Kulish became disheartened by the fact that most newspapers in Jaipur and Ajmer were influenced by political personalities. He strongly felt the need for an independent regional newspaper, free from political biases, as mentioned in Sevanti Ninan's book "Headlines from the Heartland".

Thus, Rajasthan Patrika was born on March 7, 1956, initially starting as a small evening newspaper sold for two paise per page. According to the LinkedIn post, it began with a loan of Rs 500 (equivalent to approximately Rs 10,000 today) and had very basic resources, including "two chairs, one table, one typewriter, and two and a half men". The newspaper was printed at Lokavani Press in Jaipur.

Rajasthan Patrika's blatant bias in favor of the BJP government undermines the principles of fair and unbiased journalism. By prioritizing political allegiances over journalistic integrity, it not only fails its readers but also compromises the democratic fabric of the nation. As a responsible media outlet, it is imperative for Rajasthan Patrika to uphold its duty to the public by presenting a balanced and objective view of the political landscape.