Where is our Julian

Julian Assange with all the wrong he has purportedly committed is a hero. Perhaps an anti-hero who had the courage to take on the might of the US and the Western world and exposed damning evidence on serious stuff like war crimes and silly banter that takes place in the diplomatic circles. His fight for freedom will be a long drawn affair, hopefully good sense will prevail upon the European Union and the UK to let him go to Ecuador.

I like Julian because we lack such courageous folks in our media. Media houses in India are hardly independent most of them cultivate some party or political leader. Less said about our TV anchors they keep throwing softballs as tough questions to our politicians and bureaucrats. TV debates during prime time are laughable. Some of them like Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep are vociferous and just about that.

I would say that the best investigating journalist in India is Government's own CAG. I doff my hat to Mr. Vinod Rai for taking on the government. He may be wrong on some points but he does have a view. Natural resources allocation should be based on sound policy and not based on whims and fancies of politicians.

RTI has thrown some heroes who have taken up issues with the government and were successful; some of them were eliminated since they were asking uncomfortable questions. Now the government has come up with whistle blower protection act. Will it help.

We need hundreds of Julian's in India, we need an exposure daily, and there should be tremendous pressure on the political class to reform themselves. There should be electoral reforms and cap on election spending.

But is it doable, they have tarnished a person like Anna, they created confusion in the minds of people to start suspecting Anna's movement. They are a dangerous lot and the only way we can get an upper hand on them is to expose their underhand dealings. Let there be a hundred Julian’s in Indian media.