Patrika's aggressive campaign against corruption strikes chord in Bhopal

When readers saw their paper in the morning, they felt it was burnt. But that was not the case.

The front page was designed in such a way that it gave such an impression. The colours were used intelligently and it succeeded in creating this impact.

The newspaper's aggressive campaign in Bhopal in the form of hoardings that read as, 'Burn Patrika', had already caught the imagination of citizens.

The paper gave the message that it stood for truth and was exposing mafia, the corrupt politicians and the bureaucrats, who were all hand in glove, and wanted the newspaper out of the town and wished to burn the paper.

The front page showed old reports published in the paper like the news about a Chirayu groups hospital which was given permission to construct its building in the Upper Lake despite objections and in violation of norms. The other report was about an IPS officer Sanjay Chaudhary who was Director Sports for a long period.

Dainik Bhaskar, the leading Hindi newspaper, is known to have become 'subdued'. The impression that Bhaskar doesn't expose corruption because it has stakes in numerous businesses, and has become protective of the regime, has been strengthened by rival Patrika's vigorous campaign.

The reports that targeted BJP ministers have also given the Rajasthan-based paper, which had started MP edition, a few years back, another fillip. After Raj Express that faced administration's action, Patrika's proactive journalism may enthuse other papers.

One hopes that journalists in Bhopal stop getting 'managed' and publish stories that hit the 'system' rather than reducing themselves to official mouthpieces and turning journalism into a PR exercise.

As Patrika is known to be sympathetic to RSS and BJP, this anti-corruption campaign and exposures are more praiseworthy. Right now, the newspaper's advertising campaign seems to have clicked.

Was Lokayukta PP Naolekar's photograph morphed?

The photograph that showed Lokayukta Justice PP Naolekar in RSS dress raised a storm.

Congress leader Kalpana Parulekar displayed the photo in the Assembly. She claimed that it was real. But other sources suggested that the face was morphed and superimposed on the photo that was or some other Sangh swayamsevak.

Now the case has reached police. Will it lead to trouble for the stormy petrel, Parulekar, who has been at the centre of many such controversies in the past also.

*Photo courtesy Dainik Bhaskar newspaper

Heat on BJP leaders, issue of builders' nexus with bureaucrats raised in Assembly

The State congress seems to have got a bit active during the recent Assembly session when its leaders raised serious issues after a long time.

The No Confidence Motion also brought Ajay Singh 'Rahul' to the centre of political happenings in Madhya Pradesh. He made serious charges of corruption in the House.

The Opposition looked rejuvenated. Earlier, the issue of builders-bureaucrats nexus also came up. The subject of illegal mining that is causing huge loss to the state was also raised forcefully.

Congress MLA Arif Aqueel questioned Babulal Gaur that why 'He and his government is so touchy about Dilip Buildcon and the BMC commissioner Manish Singh whose name was mentioned during the Income Tax raid at Sagar Group'. Gaur replied that if roads were not constructed as per the standards, Aqueel could go to Lokayukta.