Ban on Sanatan Prabhat: Newspapers’ freedom Suppression

Magh Pornima

Editorial of Dainik Sanatan Prabhat

It is very essential to have all 4 pillars of Democracy in good state. Journalism is considered to be the 4th pillar of Democracy. Looking at recent trend of yellow Journalism, the 4th pillar is in a very bad state. Some of these Newspapers are fulfilling their duty religiously keeping National interest in mind.In today’s world of selling Journslism the government is accountable to take notice of such devoted journals; but unfortunately the rulers are going in the opposite direction. Congress Government in Maharashtra and Goa is trying to suppress the voice of such devoted Journalism.Our readers should take notice of this that ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ is first on the list of all the devoted journals suffering due to suppression!

Fanatics and anti-Dharma people are being criticized by ‘Snantan Prabhat’. These people get scared due to that and rushing to the government demand an action on ‘Sanantan Prabhat’. Since the government of Maharashtra needs to secure its vote bank was struggling to impose a ban on us for the last 8 months. Now the Goa government too is trying to suppress it.To give an example, ‘Information and Publicity Department’ of Goa gives its advertisement to all the newspapers for the last 10 years. Suddenly it has stopped giving the same to ‘Snantan Prabhat’ to deprive us financially!

Financial suppression of  ‘Sanatan Prabhat’

‘Sanatan Prabhat’ used to get advertisement worth 19 lacs from ‘Information and Publicity Department’ and other Government Departments on an average of 4 years which is absolutely negligible means about 1/10th. According to the government plan government advertisements are given to all the news papers, on account of National Days, National Festivals; but this year Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’ appears to be an exception. Rejecting advertisements from ‘Information and Publicity Department’ on the occasions of Ganesh Chaturthy, Divali, Goa Liberation Day, so also some government programmes for ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ it is trying to suppress it financially. Like Maharashtra Government Goa Government too is prejudiced towards ‘Sanatan Prabhat’. It should be mentioned here that Maharashtra Government has not given any advertisement to Sanatan Prabhat’ for the last 10years. 

Freedom to newspapers is unacceptable to Congress Government   

Our representative tried to contact the officer of the ‘Information Department to enquire about stopping giving advertisements abruptly; but the answer was not convincing. ‘Not to give advertisement to Sanatan Prabhat’ was not discussed in the meetings held. Then what could be the reason for this? Out of 4 Editions of Sanatan Prabhat’ only Goa and Sindhudurga Editions were getting those advertisements; but since we started to publish the true nature of Congress the advertisements were stopped though it sponsors lot of advertisements for all Urdu Periodicals however may be the criticism by them on Goa government. From the answers given by the ‘Information’ officers for the last 6 months and seeing their helplessness it becomes quite evident about government’s interferference. Since our matter is against the Congress government it is boycotting us by not sponsoring advertisements to us and thereby depriving us financially, is being heard from the Department. Shall we say that Congress government does not value freedom of press and Democracy? Is this not dictatorship to deprive anybody financially who speaks against the government? The same rulers praise bold Journalism by Lokmanya Tilak on ‘Journalists’ Day’. The speakers advise to promote uninfluenced Journalism on such a day. Then why this suppression of the press journals in Democracy? Why not the same principle applied to all newspapers? 

In one of the English weekly slanderous matter is given regarding Chief Minister and other Ministers too and it prints allegations against the members of the cabinet which are irrelevant; but still this weekly gets all the advertisements regularly. How can the Government tolerate this? Some obscene pictures of women harming morality of the future generation are printed in English Newspapers. When alert women told the Chief Minister to take action against the said newspapers, he showed his helplessness saying that it is freedom of press. They are given advertisements also on large scale. What is the reason for the rulers to be so harsh towards us when they are seriously following the freedom of press at the cost of even spreading immorality in the society? 

We are not going to compromise with the principles of Journalism! 

We are writing bluntly as we have ideals like Lokmanya Tilak and G.P. Hegde Desai (Bharatkar) before us. We do not write out of vengeance; but to fulfill our duty. We write against any Party irrespective of Congress or BJP, etc. We write relevant facts, it is not just to oppose and every reader of our newspaper would agree to this. Though ban was being proposed on ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ we continued to write the same way. Hence due to financial deprivation we would never compromise with Journalism. We have taken a vow and we would observe it at any cost.

Blessings from God is supreme!

Continuous financial aid is required when one thinks of publishing a newspaper. The help given by the Government through advertisement reduces this financial loss to a certain extent. The subscriber’s contribution per paper is just 1/10th of the total cost. To accomplish the aim of development of the Nation and Dharma suffering financial loss too because of Saints’ blessings, well wishing readers, having known the distinguishing features and importance of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ advertisers give advertisements, well wishers and the support of God behind all this we are able to keep on going for about12 years and it would go on like this! One should remember that whoever participates in this God’s mission in order to establish a God’s Kingdom is definitely going to be blessed. 

We are sure that when a Government having patriots and faithful Hindutvawadis is established, this treatment given to ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ would be curbed. The Congress people should remember that when this kind of rule is established they would be punished severely for disregarding Democracy while suppressing the freedom of press! 

Source: Dainik Sanatan Prabhat

Also See

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