The deal and the ‘deal’

The nuclear deal is not only causing tremors in government circles, it is also having its aftereffects on the media as well. Expectedly, most media organisations have stopped discussing anything else except the ‘deal’. Hence channel after channel is inviting the same leaders to discus, debate and fight it out (literally).
We sometimes fail to understand as to why several channels are fond only a few politicians. Abhishek Singhvi (Congress), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), A. Raja (CPI), Jayanti Natarajan (Congress), Shahid Siddiqui (formerly SP, now BSP) are all favourite of many a channel. But there is no guessing. Their oratory and argumentative skills apart, these leaders can argue their cases well, even against their convictions. A classical case was that of Shahid Siddiqui. He defended the deal tooth and nail in several news channels, only to oppose it a few days later. He thus went to the extent of deserting the party by joining hands with BSP.
Channels like NDTV and Times Now know very well that whenever there is Pratap Rudy, the debate heats up. Rudy is known for his abrasive acumen, where he lacks immensely the decency to allow others to speak. He can argue his case only with certain concocted ‘facts’ which he can present with utmost rhetoric. He further has the uncanny knack to silence the opponent with his curt but illogical remarks. His very presence can stimulate heated discussions, simply because he speaks more from the pigment of his imagination. And with another argumentative Indian like Abhishek Singhvi around the place, there is assurance of sensational debates – whether they are worth all the time and money is a further debatable issue.
So here are media institutions, falling head over heels to urge leaders to come to their studios to discuss the deal. No one, of course, is introspecting as to the ultimate usefulness of such an important debate. That the media, in general, are in favour of the deal is a fact well known. But brining in leaders with vitriolic oratory can add up rich dividends in terms of advertisements and TRP ratings. So no channel wants to forego the ‘deal’ with politicians.
Meantime audience, of course, is fed up seeing the same faces time and again, listening to same arguments from more or less the same people. The issue is the same; unfortunately, those debating the issue also are the same. What does the common man feel about the whole debate, we hardly know. I think to know that we need to wait for the next elections, which may be just round the corner.