‘Is my life in danger?’ Ravish Kumar asks PM

Ravish Kumar

Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

I am not only hopeful but also confident that you will be hale and hearty. I always pray for your good health and may you get infinite energy. The intention of this letter is limited. It is well known to everyone now that linguistic decency has reached its lowest on social media platforms. This is being done by members of an organisation under your leadership, your supporters as well as opposition. The number of such people is increasing day by day.

Sad part is that, you follow some of the people on Twitter who are using derogatory language and threatening other people. You continue to follow them even after it comes on public domain. Company of such people neither suits you, nor the dignity of the post of prime minister. You might be following them due to some special qualifications. I sincerely hope that you will not consider qualities like the ability to bully, abuse or talk about grave communal issues to follow anyone.

It is possible that these people might be taking advantage of your faith and use such language? Since you are prime minister, it is your duty to look into the matter. I understand your busy schedule, but your team can make sure that you don't follow such people on Twitter. These people are hurting your dignity. The Indian masses have given you immense love and if something fell short, you can always ask them, they will be happy to give it to you, but it does not adorn that the prime minister of India should follow such people who abuses any citizen of India, talk communally about the minority community and express sorrow about the critics.

Since I have read that you follow (a) few people on Twitter who are abusing me badly, threatening me, talking communally, claiming that a few other journalists and I, who are highly patriotic, are terrorists on a WhatsApp group named Om Dharm Rakshati Rakshati; I am really very frightened. Mr Prime Minister, if I read the derogatory language used in this WhatsApp group about me and (a) few other journalists, many people will close their ears. The language used about women journalists is really shameful.

I also feel bad and sorry about the foul language used for you on the social media platforms. But here the case is about the people from your side, who are threatening a journalist like me. Whenever I tried to leave the WhatsApp group, people in the group used to say that catch him, he is running away, beat him and again add me into the group. I can't share the sample of their language over here because I know I am writing a letter to the prime minister of India. It is my obligation and duty to regard you even in my strongest criticism.

The crowd which is created by politics on social media platforms and roads, will become a challenge for society, especially women. Their language is anti-women. They are so communal that you won't even tolerate them. Anyway, you want to eradicate communalism from India by 2022. Your speech on  August 15 also didn't have any effect on them and they have been abusing me till recently.

There was a celebration on social media a few days back that I would be fired from my job now. Many said that the government is running behind me. Recently, Bobby Ghosh — editor of the Hindustan Times was fired because you didn't like him. I read this on TheWire.in. They quote this and say that now it is my turn. Though I laugh about such things but they also worry me. I can't believe that the strong prime minister of India can take away the job of a journalist. Then people say that it is a matter of few days only, your arrangement has been done.

If at all, it happens, it is a privilege for me, but don't let it happen. Not for me, but for the great democracy of India. Otherwise people will say, that if my voice is different from others, is there no place for me in this democracy? The job of a journalist will be decided at the level of prime minister and finance minister? I see all these speculations from the threats given on that WhatsApp group. If you wouldn't have been following such people, I would have not written this letter to you.

I don't speak truth to threaten others. Bapu used to say that the truth with ego is not truth. I speak to make myself more humble and to atone for my inner contradictions. When I am not able to speak or write, I keep on struggling with that truth. I speak in the struggle to be free from all the weakness due to which people say that don't fear the Government or what? I am afraid of my weaknesses. I speak to fight my weakness. I write. Many times I fail. Then I console myself that though I failed this time but next time I will try to pass this exam. To speak in front of power is the courage which has been rightly given by the Constitution and you are the protector of it.

Your well-wisher, 

Ravish Kumar, 

Journalist, NDTV India