Journalism is a sacred profession committed to the principle of disseminating fair, factual and objective information to the readers. It offers citizens informed choices, enabling them to sift facts from fiction. It is expected to flow the unvarnished ideas, facts and views so that the latter would form their opinion without any deception and error. The media commands respect in our society because of its role in balancing the three organs of the state – executive, legislature and judiciary. Owing to this task and responsibility, it is called Fourth Estate. Therefore, truthfulness, impartiality and credibility should be the lynchpin of media profession. If the journalists or the media organisations move away from their professional ethics and code of conduct, they will not only lose the public faith but they are also blamed for creating chaos and conflict in the society. Now some Indian media outlets are treading degraded path to slander the entire journalism sector. They have become the bad example of how the power of journalism can be abused to promote jingoism and hatred against the neighbouring government and people.

A host of Indian newspapers and TV channels have been spitting venom against the KP Sharma Oli government after it released a new map by incorporating Lipmiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani in far northwest of Nepal into its territory last month. India has been encroached upon these territories since 1962. As Nepal moved to claim its territorial right, the Indian media has gone nuts and started disseminating the fabricated stories that Nepal is acting against India at behest of China. They suffered from Sinophobia so much that they see Chinese hand in every major step related to domestic and foreign affairs of Nepal. In the latest bizarre deed, Indian news channel ‘Zee Hindustan’ broadcast a framed and fancied news report linking Prime Minister Oli with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi. It was malicious, false and a sheer distortion of truth. In a similar manner, The Times of India damaged its own credibility by publishing an editorial titled ‘Oli’s political woes’ with insulting illustration on PM Oli’s picture.

The Indian media are undermining Nepal’s sovereignty and independence ad hominem. They have been habituated to cook false narratives and concocted stories to hurt the dignity of Nepalis. Such unethical acts have only harmed bilateral ties and triggered acrimonious rejoinders from Nepal’s side. Instead of serving as the bridge between the people and governments of two nations, they have played spoilsport, further fuelling trust deficit between the two governments. It seems they are not rising above the colonial mindset and still want to treat Nepal as India’s vassal state. Such attitude is dangerous and never contributes to evolve Nepal-India relations at a desired pace. Apparently, the Indian media is working in collusion with the bad politicians to poison Nepal-China relations. It is imperative that the Indian media vis-à-vis the government should respect Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Indian media is advised to publish and air the fact-based news and views. The propaganda-driven speculative news and stories only do injustice to the journalistic profession and damage age-old Nepal-India ties.