Political experts highlight steady decline in press freedom in India, IIOJK
#IndiaUnderCensorship
Srinagar: Political experts have expressed grave concerns over the alarming erosion of press freedom in India and Indian illegaly occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a trend that has intensified since Narendra Modi’s rise to power in 2014.
According to Kashmir Media Service, analysts point out that under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, the media landscape has been increasingly dominated by intimidation tactics, censorship, and legislative overreach in India and occupied Kashmir.
Experts underline the decline in India’s ranking on the World Press Freedom Index, attributing it to systematic efforts to undermine journalistic independence. “Journalists in India and IIOJK are facing an unprecedented level of harassment and intimidation,” said a political analyst. “Draconian laws, surveillance, and targeted lawsuits are being used to silence voices critical of the regime.”
In IIOJK, the situation is particularly dire. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, media outlets have faced a relentless crackdown. Several journalists have been detained, and publications that refuse to align with the Hindutva agenda are being sidelined. “The clampdown is not limited to IIOJK. Across India, independent journalism is being suffocated under a network of BJP-controlled media houses and RSS-linked corporate ownerships,” the analyst added.
Critics also highlight the Modi government’s legislative measures, which expand surveillance capabilities and restrict journalistic freedoms. “These measures are part of a larger strategy to control narratives and suppress dissent,” observed a scholar of South Asian politics. The government’s use of mainstream media as a propaganda tool to downplay crimes against religious minorities has further raised alarms among human rights advocates.
The experts unanimously call for international attention and action to ensure India upholds press freedom and protects journalists from targeted reprisals. “The current trajectory is unsustainable for a democratic nation,” they concluded, urging global organizations to hold the Modi regime accountable for its tightening grip on the media.
