Why is Indian media in crises under BJP government

 

The 2023 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RWB), indicates that press freedom in India is in crisis, with the country currently ranked 161st out of 180 countries.

The RWB report emphasizes that since Modi came to power, the nature of the Indian press has fundamentally changed. Once known for its vibrancy and diversity, it has now begun to move in the opposite direction. The media landscape in India has become increasingly politically partisan, potentially compromising the impartiality and independence of reporting. The organization claims that many journalists in India are forced to self-censor due to extreme pressure.

 

Meanwhile, the opposition consistently alleges that the current media has become a puppet of the ruling party, focused solely on praising the government. This, they argue, has led to a loss of the media’s true purpose: informing the public about reality.

 

Accusations of biased reporting and censorship, as well as political pressure on media outlets, are being made. The widespread takeover of media outlets by the country’s elite, who maintain close relationships with political leaders, is also proving to be dangerous. This is restricting the free flow of information, evidently diminishing the freedom and credibility of the media.

 

In fact, as soon as Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he fostered a strong coordination between his party (BJP) and the influential families that dominate the media. A prime example of this is the Ambani-led Reliance Industries group, which has been in Modi’s favor since the very beginning. This group owns more than 70 media outlets, reaching at least 800 million Indians. Similarly, the acquisition of the NDTV channel in late 2022 by tycoon Gautam Adani, who is also very close to Narendra Modi, signaled a shift away from pluralism in mainstream media.

 

This demonstrates that despite the abundance of media outlets in India, there is a tendency towards the concentration of ownership, with only a handful of expansive media companies at the national level.

 

Other factors contributing to the deteriorating environment for press freedom in India, which are also responsible for the decline in India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index.

 

It is true that journalists in India face threats, harassment and physical attacks by both state and non-state actors. This not only creates an environment of fear but can also lead to self-censorship among journalists. India is among the top 5 countries where the highest number of deaths have been recorded. As of 2021, 6 journalists have been killed because of their work, however the fact could be even more.

 

The restrictions on media freedom are occurring amid a growing crackdown on civil society by the BJP-led government. This crackdown has targeted and prosecuted human rights activists, students, government critics, and peaceful protesters on charges of sedition, anti-terrorism, and national security. There have been instances where journalists covering events organized by Hindu nationalist groups were attacked.

 

From early on, Modi took a critical stance towards journalists, viewing them as “middlemen” who polluted the direct relationship between himself and his supporters. Concurrently, Indian journalists who claim to only tell the truth to the public have been subjected to all-out harassment and attack campaigns by so-called Modi devotees.

 

Today, journalists and critics are increasingly targeted for criticizing government policies and practices, including prosecution under counterterrorism and sedition laws. On one hand, the Indian authorities have been implicated in using the Israeli-produced spyware Pegasus to target journalists. On the other hand, the authorities’ frequent internet shutdowns hamper the ability of journalists to do their work, including accessing and disseminating information online. This government has been increasingly using internet shutdowns as a means of suppressing dissent and controlling the flow of information. This can severely restrict the ability of journalists and media organizations to report on events and issues.

 

Media freedom is a complex issue in India. While freedom of the press in India is legally protected by amendments to the Constitution of India, there have always been concerns about these same laws and regulations being used to restrict press freedom. Laws such as the sedition law and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act have been used to target journalists and media organizations, leading to self-censorship and a chilling effect on free speech.

 

For instance, journalists and online critics have been targeted for their criticism of government policies and practices, including prosecution under counterterrorism and sedition laws. There have been instances of journalists being arrested on spurious terrorism and sedition charges, and critics and independent news organizations being targeted.

 

The media industry in India has also faced economic pressure due to declining revenues and job losses. This is affecting the quality and diversity of reporting, as well as limiting the resources available for investigative journalism.

 

The ruling government has come under criticism for its arbitrary treatment not only within the country but also with foreign correspondents, including retaliatory actions against foreign correspondents, including denying them access to territories, shortening visas or removing them from permits.

 

These arbitrary practices have been highlighted by the case of Vanessa Dougnac, a French journalist who was threatened with expulsion in January for allegedly writing a "malicious and critical" article, and who has been working in India for the past 17 months, is deprived of her rights.

 

Another example is Aatish Taseer, a journalist who was born in Britain but raised in India, was stripped of his OCI status in 2019 after writing a cover story about Narendra Modi for Time magazine. As a result, he is no longer able to live in the country where his family lives.

 

Angad Singh, an Indian-American journalist , who made documentaries for Vice News, was deported back to the United States upon reaching Delhi in August 2022, despite having an OCI card. Singh's documentary about India was considered "negative" by Indian authorities, who said he was "engaging in blatant anti-national propaganda to defame the country."

 

While India’s position has been consistently falling in the press freedom index since 2016 when it was ranked 133, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denies that journalists are being targeted and believes that whatever is happening is part of "orchestrated propaganda" against the government. The police have even filed complaints against journalists in "some recent cases" as serious criminal charges have been leveled for spreading fake news in a riot-like situation with the intent to incite violence. To some extent, all these facts together are responsible for the decline of Indian media at the global level.