A compilation about the ongoing #Farmers protest against the new Farm Laws passed by the Union Government and how some government affiliated (private) media channels have diverted attention from what the farmers are actually demanding, and why.
A thread.

#FarmersProtest https://twitter.com/roflgandhi_/status/1333727498106880003
In the course of any protest against government policy, certain news channels have sought to follow a directive principle of forming a first line of defence on behalf of the government to discredit, damage and debunk genuine public fears and anxieties. https://twitter.com/imMAK02/status/1333841091737526273
It took a farmers movement to spell out the grave danger that these news channels pose to a healthy, free and democratic society. One which is legally in its rights to hold governments responsible for hurriedly passed legislation.
#FarmersProtest2020 https://twitter.com/garrybirring/status/1332945840231440384
Here is an explanation by those whose lives are actually affected.
Farmers from Haryana, Punjab, UP, Bihar and other states continue to close ranks. 10 national and several regional farmers unions are part of the movement.
35 unions met government representatives on 1st December. https://twitter.com/ndtv/status/1333017490654253056
Nor are the protests limited to just Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Farmer groups and unions have joined the protest from as far as Tamil Nadu and other corners of the country to express solidarity with the movement.
#farmersagitation #TamilNadu https://twitter.com/trichyit/status/1333943730529660928
With the Farmers Unions unwilling to back down - certain media channels and even senior stand alone media persons have stepped in to firefight the issue, on behalf of the government. Their intervention has inserted an insidious narrative linking the protests to separatism. https://twitter.com/sonaliranade/status/1333928415137763328
While the protest has been ongoing for several months it is only now that certain mainstream media channels have stepped in to play and picket the narrative.
The protesting farmers however are averse to any interaction with these government affiliated private media channels. https://twitter.com/thewalirahmani/status/1332605680340135941
With the governments usual media watchdogs receiving a cold - even unwelcome - reception, other operators including pliable public intellectuals and corporate-“Godmen” have stepped in to try and discredit and demoralise the growing impetus for a roll-back.
#farmersagitation https://twitter.com/hindutva__watch/status/1333834891058790401
The anger (and fears) within the farmers movement is natural and genuine.
More than 50% of India’s work-force demographic is linked to agriculture directly or indirectly. Their demand is “ #TakeBackFarmBills”.

#FarmersProtest https://twitter.com/tractor2twitr/status/1333661520425697281
Meanwhile the BJP MP for Ambala was so incensed with the #FarmersProtest interrupting his days programme, he told reporters “these farmers should have gone and died elsewhere why at my function...”
Hubris is infectious, it seems. https://twitter.com/news24tvchannel/status/1333683078061985792
Some sections of the media popularly known as #GodiMedia (literally lapdogs), determined to draw attention away from the issue, farmers are in fact fighting on two fronts.
1. Staving off attacks from the media.
2. Demanding a reversal of the policy. https://twitter.com/pbhushan1/status/1332655361052930051
Banners and posters such as these are in abundance across the protest sites. These are representative of a deeper national frustration with the lack of transparency usually associated with a free press. https://twitter.com/bankerbearded/status/1333787616127324160
The international press has in fact covered the protests with greater objectivity than many national media outlets and personalities.

#FarmersProtest2020 https://twitter.com/cnn/status/1333729787655958528
The scale of the protests continue to receive widespread global coverage with even South Korean news channels reporting on developments.

(Since North-Korean media won’t 😉) https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews/status/1333953438003064832
Some media’s constant and steady infantilisation of the process using every means to manipulate and break farmer unity is slowly creating anger and resentment in the farmers, most of whom are far from home and camping out in wintry conditions fighting for a cause they believe in. https://twitter.com/parwind79202034/status/1333227594511052800
This viral video of course has one protestor telling a particular news channel (of the #GodiMedia variety) that the farmers will not speak to them since they have not given them fair coverage.
The reporter stomps off without an argument.
#FarmersProtest https://twitter.com/aabidmagami/status/1333698325128757249
This one from Uttar Pradesh is a classic though.
An elderly UP farmer gives rapid fire and convincing answers to mediapersons accustomed to provoking them.
Notice also the patronising attitude of the reporters who ultimately have to give way and “retreat”.
#UPWithFarmers https://twitter.com/rupinder98769/status/1333237914692591621
Some more plain speaking against sections of the media.
The voice of the farmers has found resonance and overwhelming public support across India.
This has tapped into a wider public realisation about how some prominent news-channels are nothing more than government spokies. https://twitter.com/jay_mann_uk/status/1333666451622866945
This personality is a leading studio-votary of the regime.
Notice how she cuts off her own reporter mid-way as he begins to report on the ground situation from a protest-site.
Media coverage of the #FarmersProtest is being carefully managed from certain studios. https://twitter.com/raksharamaiah/status/1333656026449543168
Farmers speak freely to an independent news reporter from @newslaundry about their experiences with government affiliated (though privately owned) channels.
A more detailed excerpt. Must watch!
#FarmersProtest2020 #GodiMediaGoBack https://twitter.com/zoo_bear/status/1333724893804863488
#किसान_एकता_जिंदाबाद #BoycottGodiMedia
#FarmersProtest are just some of the hashtags which savvy protestors are employing across social media platforms.
Some Delhi based media persons are perplexed with how well organised the protests are and surprised why they’re not needed!
This prominent channel attempted to show its viewership how they are attempting to ingratiate themselves with the farmers, but the vigilant farmers would have none of it and persuaded them to depart from the site.
#GodiMediaGoBack https://twitter.com/the_preet_sidhu/status/1332164221400985606
The #FarmersProtest has found support in celebrities including actors, sportsmen and sportswomen and a broad base of public opinion. https://twitter.com/seerat_cskian/status/1333647312279617541
To conclude, watch this excellent expose by @saahilmenghani

#FarmersProtest #FarmersBill2020 #farmerslivesmatter #GodiMedia #GodiMediaGoBack https://twitter.com/saahilmenghani/status/1333808698133626884
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