When push did come to the shove

It was Thursday morning and Mr A. Raja, former Minister for Telecom, was to be presented before a magistrate at the Patiala House Court after being arrested a day before in connection with the 2G scam. He was to be transported from the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) at around noon that day.

In anticipation, media outfits had stationed their photographers and some television news reporters outside all three gates of the CBI since 9 a.m..

But it was not before four hours of wait that Mr Raja was escorted out by CBI officials and driven away. What ensued in between is a reflection of the media going overboard with its competitive spirit.

As Mr Raja's lunch arrived at noon, reportedly home cooked, the hungry press corps, mostly photographers, gulped down cups of chai and mathri to prepare for another hour of wait. It was not uncomfortable, as the warm winter sun was soothing. A television news reporter got a message from her office to verify if Mr Raja was indeed dissatisfied with his lunch as alleged. Somebody pointed out a pink turban in the distance, “He is Mr Raja's driver. He has been here with Mr Raja's relatives since yesterday.”

After a while, when another pink turbaned fellow entered the building, a photographer shouted out “ oye paaji ” only to be reprimanded by his fellow professionals.

Recounting an incident where a near stampede had occurred at the same premise a few months ago, the photographers agreed to not repeat such an occurrence. Though his order: “This time, none of us will run in, ok?” was met with further repartees and silence, it was agreed that there should be no stampede.

But what happened was quite the opposite.

It was as if a piece of meat had been thrown at a pack of hungry lions. As CBI officials came out of the building to create room for Mr Raja's departure, the press persons crowded at the entrance, elbowing each other for space.

As the officials unsuccessfully tried to disperse the crowd, the idea of using ropes to act as barriers was suggested by someone. A rope materialised within three minutes of the suggestion but was quickly discarded and disappeared in the multitude. Reconciling to the impossibility of the dispersal of the press persons, the CBI officials decided to take Mr Raja through the crowd.

As Mr Raja, clad in a grey half-sleeve shirt was led out of the building, all hell broke loose. Photographers pushed and shoved in a bid to get a single print-worthy frame of the former Minister. The burly CBI officers, in turn, had to use all their might to whisk Mr Raja into one of the two waiting cars.

Even before anybody could count the number of men that had got into the car with Mr Raja, (was it five or seven?) there was just dust from the speeding cars to be seen. Did our camera persons get the award worthy snaps? We hope so, after all the thrill and excitement over it.

But what if they had been a bit more disciplined, would they have gotten better snaps or sound-bites? Maybe not, but it would have been a welcome break from the daily routine of a journalist.

COMMENT NOW