The Niira Radia tapes have only confirmed what we have known all along about dubious links among corporate giants, mediapersons and politicians (“Welcome to the Matrix of the Indian state,” Nov. 29). That policies are influenced by various interests and subjective decisions are made by the government has always been evident. What comes as a rude shock is the existence of a well-entrenched system that has perfected the art of enforcing subjective decisions. Mediapersons can no longer take the moral high ground while anchoring issues of national importance.
N. Sekar,
Salem
In the movie Matrix, Neo asks Trinity what the Matrix is. Trinity says: “The answer is out there, Neo, and it's looking for you, and it will find you if you want it to.” Clearly, it's time for us to find the answers to this matrix of the Indian state and the nexus among politicians, lobbyists and the media.
Dishank Purohit,
Jaipur
It is the common man who has been maimed by the matrix of the Indian state, in which corporate power has ensnared the media in its never-ending pursuit of greed. The voice of the voiceless, journalists, should have the will to resist anything that has the potential to damage the democratic fabric of our country.
K.A. Suresh Kumar,
New Delhi
Siddharth Varadarajan is right in emphasising the need for journalists to maintain a distance from politicians and industrialists. The Radia tapes have brought into the open the well-known secret of nexus between the corporates and the lawmakers. Or else why would Ratan Tata be so upset, trying his best to dumb down the media tool of exposure and whatever little chance it has to cleanse the corroding system of our electoral democracy that is influenced greatly by money?
Kasim Sait,
Chennai
It is clear from the Radia tapes that many journalists hobnob with lobbyists of prominent business houses and do their bidding. Had a Minister or government official been involved in the episode, calls for his resignation would have been heard from all corners. The media revenue is directly related to viewership and readership. The journalists named in the Radia episode should be dealt with sternly as the common man is a big stakeholder in the media business.
R. Sreekumar,
Thiruvananthapuram
The tapes have exposed people who regularly sermonise against political corruption. It is getting more and more difficult to identify the moral and the not-so-moral. The role of influence in public life is reaching a point of no return.
Vikram Ramakrishnan,
Chennai
Journalists who have become household names and have been exposed in the Radia tape controversy have a lot to answer for. The fourth estate, which was going all out in its crusade against corruption, should also do a lot of soul-searching. Let us congratulate The Hindu on taking the lead in initiating a debate. That the visual medium has virtually buried the issue is unfortunate.
Sajith Sasidharan,
Thrissur
The well meant suggestion that the media keep a distance from both politicians and industrialists is too idealistic. The media, particularly the round-the-clock television news channels with fatly paid, loud anchors and reporters, cannot run on reports supplied by news agencies. The formula nowadays seems to be ‘create news if you don't find any'. Corruption in politics and corporate lobbying have been prevalent for decades in many countries, including the U.S. and the U.K.
A Chief Minister hardly known for maintaining a high profile has retained power in a State which the media do not take kindly to. Quiet revolutions are always possible regardless of the role of the media. One need not take an alarmist view of things like the Radia tapes.
I.S. Kanthimathinathan,
Tirunelveli
