Reconciling the irreconcilable

IPL controversy and The Hindu.
Ever since the IPL controversy broke out, The Hindu had been reporting it prominently. It has already written two editorials about it. But, I am sorry to say that, over all, the impression it helped to create is that they were loaded against Shashi Tharoor and were supportive of Nalin Modi. It carried titles that were explicit about Tharoor’s guilt and suggestive of Modi’s innocence - like “BJP wants Shashi Tharoor sacked as IPL row hots up”, “Tharoor abused office, says BJP”, “Question mark over Kochi IPL owners: Modi”, and “Pawar backs Lalit Modi in IPL Kochi row”. The Hindu would be knowing that for many readers the title is the news, and there were enough of them to make the readers feel that Nalin Modi was not guilty of any wrong doing. But, it now turns out that Modi is being investigated for match fixing, tax evasion and many other serious wrong doings.

The latest editorial, ‘Behind and beyond Tharoor’, while squarely condemning Tharoor for his “egregious acts of ministerial misconduct” and demanding a CBI enquiry, saw only an indiscretion on the part of Modi, of only doing “enough to provoke the Income Tax department to carry out a survey on the IPL's funding”. But it now turns out that it is not a survey but an all out investigation of the murky dealings of the IPL during the last three years it was running the 20/20 show, during which time Modi was its Chairman and Commissioner. As Tharoor has already admitted his role in sponsoring Ms.Pushkar, a CBI investigation is needed more in the case of Modi who has not admitted a single wrongdoing.

As a side thought, it occurred to me that The Hindu might have found in Tharoor a perfect punching bag as he had become a common target of both the BJP and the Left Parties. Being able to concur two irreconcilable political outfits is not a mean achievement. Congratulations.