People should not outsource thinking to media: Pitroda

Blaming media for creating the image of an 'individual', Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovations, today said people should think on their own and not "outsource" this to media.
He exhorted voters not to get influenced by lies being floated around.
"Today a lot of money had been spent on media. Huge amount of investment goes in media. Urban media is creating this image of an individual. It is not a Presidential system. You don't vote Modi versus Rahul Gandhi. You vote for local MP because you still have a Parliamentary vote," he told reporters at Indian Women's Press Corps.

He said people should think on their own and not "outsource" their thinking to media.
"Lies sell well. If you spend enough money on posters, PR, people will say this is the way it is," he said.
Pitroda said lie sells more in India than truth. He recalled general elections of 1989 when Congress under leadership of Rajiv Gandhi lost election.

"In 1989, everybody said 'Gali Gali mein shor hai Rajiv Gandhi Chor hai' (Every street people making noise that Rajiv Gandhi is thief). Rajiv Gandhi had 400 seats. Rajiv Gandhi was not chor and there was no shor in Gali Gali. But it sold. Rajiv Gandhi lost election from 400 seats. Because in this country lie sell," he said.

In 1989 election, Congress won 197 seats but all opposition parties joined hands to form National Front government under leadership of Vishwanath Pratap Singh.
"Rajiv Gandhi got killed, we lost according to me personally big window of opportunity. Nobody remembers that. 25 years down the road you haven't found anything. At that time you propagate a lie and India suffered. You are propagating some more lies now and India will suffer again," he said.
Pitroda said people should not confuse media hype with actual voters and wait till May 16 to know verdict of people.
Commenting on BJP's manifesto of including things like e-governance and national optical fibre network, Pitroda said UPA government has already done most of the work specially the intellectual work to execute and implement project

In response to query on comparison of PM Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi with Rajiv Gandhi, Pitroda said all three individuals are different.
"Rahul should be given time. He is new in politics but very well read, highly educated and very analytical," Pitroda said.