Media groups call Govt banning of news outlets assault on press freedom
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The Press Club of India (PCI) and the Press Association (PA) have criticized the ban imposed on Hindi news outlets 'Bolta Hindustan' and 'National Dastak', denouncing it as an assault on press freedom and a form of media censorship.
The PCI and PA have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate lifting of the blockade on these channels, asserting that such actions undermine the fundamental principles of democracy.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directed YouTube to block the channels of 'Bolta Hindustan', boasting a substantial subscriber base of 3 lakh, and 'National Dastak', with a staggering 94.2 lakh subscribers.
YouTube, in correspondence with the affected media startups, cited Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 15(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, as the basis for the blocking requests.
The PCI and PA expressed grave concern over what they perceive as a pattern of censorship, citing recent instances where creators have faced demonetization notices for discussing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) issues.
They highlighted that such discussions are particularly crucial given the proximity of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with even the Supreme Court taking cognizance of the matter.
Furthermore, the associations underscored the recent unblocking of social media handles belonging to independent journalists covering the farmers' protests, following a prolonged period of inaccessibility. They criticized the opacity surrounding government directives to take down or block content, emphasizing the need for transparency and due process in such matters.
Anurag Singh Thakur, the head of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, has come under intense scrutiny, with demands for an explanation regarding the rationale behind the draconian orders to block YouTube channels.
