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- Title
Modi's Regime of Truth: Navigating India's Rank 159 in Press Freedom.
- Authors
SAFI, ABDUL MUSSAWER
- Abstract
India's low ranking of 159th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index raises concerns about media freedom in the country. This ranking places India below neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Turkey, highlighting broader regional challenges to journalistic freedom. Since Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, there has been a notable shift in India's media dynamics, with the emergence of "Godi media" and the acquisition of NDTV by Gautam Adani raising doubts about press diversity. The Modi government has used colonial-era laws and anti-terrorism provisions to intimidate and retaliate against journalists, and the Telecommunication Act of 2023 grants the government sweeping powers to control news and suppress dissent. The dominance of a few media conglomerates, often with government ties, creates an uneven playing field, and the profession remains dangerous, with journalists facing risks and even losing their lives. In Kashmir, the media faces harassment from police and paramilitary forces, and the practice of "preventive" detention has led to journalists being imprisoned without formal charges. These challenges pose a significant threat to press freedom and democracy in India, and addressing them is crucial for protecting journalists' rights, free speech, and accountability.
- Subjects
INDIA; MODI, Narendra, 1950-; FREEDOM of the press; FREEDOM of expression; POLICE harassment; MASS media industry; ATTRIBUTION of news; FREEDOM of speech
- Publication
International Policy Digest, 2024, p1
- ISSN
2332-9416
- Publication type
Article