#PrimetimeWatch: Channels Debate Who Gets Credit, and How Much, for ASAT Test
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced India’s successful launch of an anti-satellite (A-SAT) missile. With this, the country joined a select group of nations to have the capability.
The opposition questioned Modi’s address to the nation when the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections is in force and asked why scientists could not announce it. The Election Commission appointed a committee of officers to probe the issue.
The debate also involved in the scientific community. Why were the tests not carried out earlier, and would such tests not add to space debris were the questions raised.
How did the media report this story?
English channels
NDTV 24X7
In it programme Left Right and Centre, the channel used the headline “India joins exclusive space club”.
Anchor Nidhi Razdan said, “no one would fault the PM during normal times” for making the announcements. “But two weeks before elections, people will raise this question about the timing.”
Desh Ratan Nigam of BJP said “it requires time to test (such technology) and finalise it”. He said it is nothing but “paranoia” that the test and elections are being linked.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde spoke about how former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao did not carry out the Pokharan tests as the elections were just weeks away.
Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said, “Isn’t it so regrettable that India’s PM is walking the fine line – he would be feeling good he manipulated the entire public attention and appropriated the credit for what the scientists have done.”
Times Now
With the hashtag #MissionShaktiRow, the channel also discussed the controversy. However, it positioned itself through headlines like “Why did UPA stall Mission Shakti?”.
Anchor Navika Kumar also asked why did the UPA not make any budgetary provisions for the test. The programme featured former DRDO chairman Vijay Saraswat. Kumar asked about his earlier comments on ‘debris flying in space’ when he raised concerns following the destruction of a satellite by China.
Also read: Having Tested Its ASAT Capability, India Should Help Shape Global Space Norms
Saraswat, who is now a member of NITI Aayog, said, “Millions of objects are in the orbit today, they are taken care of at the time of launch. We have to minimise space debris. A few tests do not make a difference but if we do a lot of tests it changes the situation.”
The Congress representative accused Saraswat of speaking not as a scientist but as a NITI Aayog man now.
Republic TV
The channel too had a similar tone to its discussionL “Avoided in 2012, shot in 2019”. It announced India’s entry into the select group with a hashtag #IndiaSpaceSuperPower and heading “India space warfare ready”.
With about eight panellists speaking simultaneously, the channel tried to discuss the issue. Nalin Kohli of Bthe JP could be heard urging everyone to “celebrate the launch”. Some representatives of the opposition accused the BJP of making it a political spectacle.
And then anchor-editor Arnab Goswami declared: “The country is proud, Sushant Sareen is smiling and I will see you on the other side – come on now, the country doesn’t come to a stop due to elections.”
India Today TV
In its primetime programme, under the hashtag #IndiaElects, the channel spoke to the “Brain behind Nyay exclusive”.
Anchor Rajdeep Sardesai spoke to economist Abhijeet Banerjee about Congress's recently-announced `Nyunatam Aay Yojana’ or minimum income promise for the poor.
Banerjee, whose research on cash transfers in Indonesia reportedly found that they reduce suicide rates by 18%, spoke about how “either way we have a fiscal challenge.” He said “the interest rates are unsustainably high” and spoke about how such a scheme could benefit the poor.
Hindi channels
Aaj Tak
The channel provided a glimpse into how the A-SAT missile works, and through lauded the move with headlines like “Bharat nay racha itehas (India creates history)".
It also showed Saraswat explaining how the system works. “Satellites revolve around the earth in space. Ground radars track the intended satellite and computers calculate when the missile is to be fired to intercept it. DRDO and ISRO were planning the strike and to this end a satellite was launched on January 24.”
The channel declared that after air, land and sea, “India has now secured its position in space as well.”
The channel also ran story on how it has now been proved that Pakistan lied about not using F-16s following the Balakot strike. India had claimed that it fired US-made Abraam missiles at Indian targets and lost one of its aircraft during a dogfight.
The story showed Pakistan People’s Party leader Bilawal Bhutto lauding Pakistan Air Force Squad Leader Hasan Siddique, and foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi hailing the role of Wing Commander Noman Ali Khan for shooting down an Indian aircraft.
Noman Ali Khan, the channel said, is an F-16 pilot.
Zee News
The channel showed finance minister Arun Jaitley coming out in defence of the Centre for announcing the A-SAT launch. He said Indian scientists have long been prepared to carry out these tests but the previous UPA government did not have the courage or the resolve to allow DRDO to go ahead with it. “Those who pat their backs for their failures have left long footprints of their misdeeds and these are not missed easily.”
Also read: Former CECs Say Modi’s 'Mission Shakti' Speech Could Have Violated Model Code
The response of Pakistan to India’s latest test also featured on the channel. “Pakistan said no country should militarise the space. It is every country’s responsibility to maintain peace in space,” the channel reported.
ABP News
In its Master Stroke programme, it lauded the country’s scientists for the missile test: “Desh kay vaigyanikon ka hoga samman, to desh ka hoga maan (When scientists would be honoured, country’s prestige would increase)."
It also looked at the history of India’s space programme and how for the first rocket the parts were carried on a bullock cart.
NDTV India
In Prime Time, the channel had a programme by anchor Ravish Kumar on “kin muddon par vote dalega desh ka naujawan? (Issues that the country’s youth would vote for)".
The episode focused on employment – or the lack thereof. It showed Kumar in Ninana village of Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, where he spoke to the youth about jobs and aspirations.
Young people also spoke about the low level of education standards in the hinterland. “Quality of teachers is not the same as in Delhi. After completing Class 12, the students of the village themselves become teachers,” said one.
This article went live on March twenty-eighth, two thousand nineteen, at zero minutes past three in the afternoon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
