A summit or is it?

I happened to read an article in Big think which explained how social media is increasing intolerance because of its “algorithms”. Many millennials in this country and in world over, get their news only from social media. And social media shows them articles which they May click. That is the articles which already agrees with their view point. So they never get to see the other side. 

I rarely use Facebook or Twitter. But even YouTube shows me the videos which are critical of the party I don’t support.

So left leaning people will lean more towards left( and will be called “urban naxals”). And right leaning people will become nationalist and completely right. 

We are seeing this phenomenon already happening here and else where. And what is the solution? How do we overcome intolerance from both ideologies?

So today I started watching the “other “ side. I started watching 2019 narrative summit in Republic TV. I took courage to watch that channel because, there were only two panelists, so I may have to hear 3 people ( including Arnab) talk over each other.

And also in the Summit, Tamil actor Kamal Hasan was a panelist. He is a knowledgeable man and balanced person.

For a change Arnab was asking some unpleasant questions to Smriti irani. She in her usual style, but now with even more arrogance kept on saying “but what about them”. Bulandshahr was talked about. Smriti was justifying UP chief minister saying that hw visited slain police officer’s family. She did not condemn about Yogi saying cow slaughter will be investigated.

When the question about increase in cow vigilantes and BJP MLAs visiting those arrested for lynching or giving statements supporting them, she was angry that he is insinuating that entire party is like “that”. And is the statements of few MLAs and MPs more important than condemnation of our prime minister?

Valid point, Ms. Irani. You people value human lives (of all religions) more than cows! We all know that. 

Arnab was trying to “incite” Kamal Hasan to speak against BJP. But kamal Hasan was very diplomatic. But the moment he brought the issue of Sterilite industries Arnab started attacking him about NGOs and pseudo activists and how they are trying to stop development etc. 

And Smriti was sloganeering Make India great again. Not in so many words.

So who won in the end? I won. I had the patience to watch their childish arguments without punching the TV.