"The Public Is Not Foolish, But Powerless," Says Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai At KLF.

At the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode on Friday, veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai did not hold back in his sharp critique of the current politics in India.

In a conversation with journalist Naresh Fernandes, Sardesai dived into the erosion of democratic principles in the country with a particular focus on the state’s growing control over the media, the criminalisation of journalism, and the alarming consolidation of corporate power under the current government.

Sardesai, who has worked across prominent media platforms and earned recognition as an award-winning journalist, voiced his frustrations at KLF.

During the session, Sardesai raised concerns about the growing normalisation of media control, political suppression, and the lack of accountability among the country’s powerful elite.

As a man who has been at the forefront of Indian journalism for over three decades, Sardesai’s words carry significant weight.

Sardesai, known for his fearless commentary through his India Today media was at his aggressive best as he slammed the government, exposed the dangers of media monopolisation, and painted a bleak picture of the growing divide between citizens and the state.

The session, which revolved around his latest book The Election That Surprised India, was an honest and powerful conversation about the 2019 general elections, the shift in India’s political environment and the troubling developments that followed.

He discussed how India’s once free and diverse media environment has now been concentrated in the hands of a few powerful corporate magnates, many of whom have strong ties to the current government.

Drawing a direct parallel with the tragic erosion of the freedom of the press, he referenced the takeover of NDTV, once India’s most independent news network, by corporate mogul Gautam Adani, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The channel we had set up is taken over by the big shark and we are watching the public smile, oblivious to the takeover of our freedom,” he said.

He further discussed how this centralisation of media power is not just an economic concern but a threat to the very essence of democratic discourse in India.

According to Sardesai, the government’s growing influence over media outlets has led to a disturbing trend where public discourse is shaped to serve the interests of the ruling elite, leaving ordinary citizens at the mercy of a corporate-controlled narrative.

“There is no real space for independent journalism left. Media houses have become the mouthpieces of those in power,” he said. “The public is not foolish, but they are powerless. They see what is happening but cannot fight it, Sardesai added.

One of the most striking moments in the discussion came when Sardesai turned his attention to the plight of journalists, especially in regions like Kashmir, where reporting the truth can lead to imprisonment without charges.

He described how journalists reporting on sensitive issues, whether it be corruption, violence, or government malpractice are increasingly subjected to threats, harassment, and even imprisonment.

Sardesai shared the sensitive case of Siddique Kappan, a journalist arrested in 2020 while he was en route to report on the gang rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh.

Kappan, who has been charged under the stringent UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), remains in jail without a formal trial.

“Siddique Kappan represents what has gone wrong with our democratic checks and balances,” Sardesai remarked.

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“He is being kept in jail for two years without any charges. And no one is asking the question: how is this legal? How is it that a journalist is arrested for doing his job?”

Sardesai was particularly vocal about how the legal system seems to operate differently depending on who the accused is.

Drawing a sharp comparison, he pointed out the swift judicial action that led to the release of Arnab Goswami, a journalist known for his pro-government stance, who was granted bail within hours of his arrest for inciting suicide.

“When the courts opened on a Saturday to grant bail to Arnab Goswami, the message was clear: freedom and liberty matter for some,” he said.

“Where was the same urgency when Kappan was languishing in jail for months? Where was the liberty when a young journalist was deprived of his rights?”

Sardesai also emphasised the systemic bias faced by journalists, especially the young and vulnerable ones. “The young frontline reporters are the most vulnerable,” he said. “I have protection, I have networks, I can get top lawyers to defend me. But young journalists like Kappan, who will stand up for them?”

Sardesai then turned his focus to the growing impunity with which the Indian state operates. According to him, the state, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is increasingly able to bypass the law without fear of consequence.

This impunity, Sardesai argued is compounded by the growing influence of corporate giants like Adani, who are not just amassing wealth but also consolidating political power in tandem with the government.

“Once you have the eyes and ears of Prime Minister Modi, you become untouchable,” Sardesai said, referring to Hiren Joshi, the Prime Minister’s media in-charge.

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“He controls who gets access to the Prime Minister. He decides which journalists will be allowed to ask questions and who will be silenced. The control is brazen, in-your-face. And there’s no fear of consequences anymore,” he added.

Sardesai was clear that this new order of media control and state influence goes beyond corporate dominance. It marks a systemic breakdown of democracy itself, where the ruling elite are effectively above the law.

Despite the grim picture, he stated that his belief in India’s democracy can still be salvaged if citizens and activists unite to reclaim it. However, he was blunt about the current state of affairs.

“I remain an optimist,” but your optimism can only take you so far when you are faced with an increasingly imperious state,” Sardesai said.

In the final segment of the discussion, Sardesai voiced his deep concern over the unequal treatment of citizens. He raised the issue of sexual violence in Manipur, where horrific footage of a woman being stripped and assaulted went viral only after the state failed to act.

“Why should the woman in Manipur not have the same rights as the woman in Delhi or Kolkata?” Sardesai asked. “Why does it take a viral video for the country to wake up to the suffering of its citizens?”

He pointed out that, while India rallies for high-profile cases like the Nirbhaya rape case or justice for victims of communal violence in Delhi, regions like Manipur continue to be ignored.

For Sardesai, this selective outrage undermines the very idea of equality before the law and demonstrates a growing divide between those who have access to justice and those who do not.

“There must be equality in the system. Every citizen, regardless of their background, should have the same rights before the law,” Sardesai said.

A critical aspect of the discussion was the growing control of corporate interests over politics. Sardesai bluntly accused the government of facilitating the rise of business tycoons like Adani, who are not just enriching themselves but also exerting significant influence over political discourse.

“When you control the media, you control the narrative, and when you control the narrative, you control the people. This is what we are witnessing today. The Adonis of the world are not just businessmen; they are political power brokers now,” he said.

In Sardesai’s view, this collusion between business and politics is a fundamental threat to the democratic structure of the country.

“There was always an effort to control the media in India. But now, it’s more brazen. It’s in your face, and the people are left to watch, powerless to do anything.”

“The fight for democracy is far from over. But we must ensure that the country does not lose its soul. We must fight for fairness, equality, and the freedom of the press—because if we lose that, we lose everything,” he added.

The Kerala Literature Festival, presented by DC Books continues until January 26, featuring a wide range of sessions, workshops, and cultural events at the Kozhikode beach.