The Tribune’s stance on most issues connected to Punjab invariably remained anti-Punjab, a trait that became most obvious during the year-long farmers’ agitation.

THE TRIBUNE EDITOR Rajesh Ramachandran has decisively turned the newspaper into a right-wing groove. His editorial leadership is an example of seemingly bhadralok English-speaking elite that turns extremely conservative right-wing populist take on events into Nous Indica – India’s collective common sense – something that would never have been a reality but for the likes of such thought leaders.

In fact, The Tribune’s stance on most issues connected to Punjab invariably remained anti-Punjab, a trait that became most obvious during the year-long farmers’ agitation.

But all of this is about to come to an end. The regime no more wants apologists like him. Instead, it now wants outright chamchas who can declare themselves as such – “I am a supporter of Modi and BJP. Period”.

Incidentally, “I am a supporter of Modi and BJP” was the latest declaration made by a renowned professor of religious studies who has been scaling academic summits from Punjabi University to Bathinda varsity to that joke of a varsity in Kharar, while forging friendships along the way with academic highbrow and scholarly excellence of such solid repute that has to be nominated to Rajya Sabha.

One wonders why Rajesh Ramachandran could not do stuff like that – “I am a supporter of Modi and BJP. Period”

After all, no one has accused him of not being flexible towards the Right. In fact, his writings and editorial leadership show that he can bend over backwards, twice, towards power.

But before that piece of news regarding Ramachandran’s, here’s his latest bid to stay on the right side of the regime.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mis-represented, mis-quoted and completely communalised the Congress’ manifesto while speaking at a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara, The Tribune found an ingenious way of giving cover to Modi’s hate speech.

It published an editorial, apparently advising restraint, but actually tried to somehow blame Rahul Gandhi for vitiating the atmosphere.

Instead of calling out Modi’s lies, the editorial said the prime minister was “tearing into the Congress manifesto.”

Was Modi doing that? Or was he tearing into the remnants of all ethics in India’s democratic discourse? How innocent remains the famed editorial discretion!

Then, it tried to generalise the entire thing, and started bemoaning the likelihood of “campaign speeches becoming more vicious and venomous over the next few weeks.” So, who did it blame? Instead of telling Modi not to indulge in hate speech, it said, “The onus is on senior leaders of various political parties.”

A few more paras, and Rajesh Ramachandran was at the service of Saheb! The editorial veered away from Modi’s hate speech and instead listed the problems with Rahul Gandhi’s speeches and remarks in the past, all collated with much research.

And then it brought up how Rahul Gandhi had “eventually lost his Lok Sabha membership” over a remark about the surname ‘Modi’.

The editorial headline said: “Leaders should not lower the bar in poll speeches.”

Leaders? Or hate-spewing prime minister Modi?

Oh, dear! dear!!

Anyway, Rajesh Ramachandran is on his way out from The Tribune. His contract is not being renewed, and the powers that be at the newspaper group have dug their heels in.

Ramachandran’s is the second consecutive editor of the newspaper that the group is getting rid of in circumstances it would not want to dwell into much when it writes its history.

But the last one, Harish Khare, had left the newspaper with his head held high. He was one of the rare souls in contemporary times that showed The Tribune’s readers what editorial leadership means.

Punjabi Tribune’s editor Swarajbir, a playwright and poet par excellence in his own right, was another one whose editorial leadership set benchmarks in not only this newspaper’s history but in the region itself. He, too, left the group in circumstances that The Tribune will love not to explain.

Will The Tribune change its colours? That remains doubtful. It certainly will have a new printline very soon.

Sources, however, said Ramachandran is not someone who will not move heaven and earth, and galaxies if possible, to retain his job. And there are many a strains within the Tribune Trust.

As they say, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings! The Trust is expected to meet on May 7. 

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