New Delhi: The Union government ordered YouTube to block the 4PM News channel on Thursday, citing national security and public order risks, prompting accusations of censorship from its editor.
A notice on the channel's homepage states: “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order.” Editor Sanjay Sharma received the directive via email that morning, with no detailed explanation provided.
Sharma alleged repeated government targeting due to the channel's criticism of the Modi administration. He linked the block to a recent interview with Iranian professor Abbas, where he questioned India's stance toward the friendly nation. “Is speaking the truth now a crime in a democracy? Is asking questions to the government now anti-national?” he posted on X.
This marks the second such action; in April, post-Pahalgam terror attack, the channel was blocked for similar reasons after uploading critical videos.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh condemned the move as “thuggery,” vowing support: “Silencing impartial voices in the name of national security – what is this if not thuggery. The button that suppresses the truth has not been invented yet.”