Patna,(BiharTimes): While giving ‘colour’ to any story mediapersons often go overboard. In process they sometimes end up painting themselves in poor colour.
Recent some regional TV channels of Bihar and a couple of newspapers started tracing saffron colour in Nitish Kumar.
What actually happened is that at the inaugural function of the Patna Book Fair on Saturday the chief minister was requested to paint a lotus drawn by famous Madhubani artist, Baoa Devi.
In fact it was she who invited the CM to try his hand at the 12ft by 12ft canvas on which 27 eminent artists from 13 states would make a collaborative painting to portray the chief minister’s seven resolves for a developed Bihar.
It was at this point that one of the artists chose the colour for Nitish in which the paint brush was dipped. The colour was more red than saffron.
That was enough for the media to build a big story of Nitish painting lotus, which is actually the election symbol of the BJP. Stories were weaved as to how Nitish is once again drifting towards the saffron brigade. Several journalists sought opinion of various RJD, JD(U), BJP and Congress leaders. Some went on to say as to how prime minister Narendra Modi praised him on Januay 5 and how Nitish backed demonetization.
Whether it was by design or by a default, what they all missed is that saffron lotus is no more the election symbol of the BJP. Ever since 2014 Lok Sabha election the BJP’s symbol is white and not saffron lotus.
When BiharTimes pointed this out to some senior journalists they ‘agreed’ that it was a mistake on their part to read too much into a non-issue. Some of them were embarrassed by the way the media is reporting in Bihar.
“It is not easy for media to paint Nitish in such a colour,” felt a senior Patna-bassed scribe.
