New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI) and the Press Association (PA) have condemned the ban on Hindi news outlets ‘Bolta Hindustan’ and ‘National Dastak’ calling it “censorship of media” and an “attack on the freedom of the press”. The PCI and PA have also demanded lifting of the blockade on these channels.
“While the Press Club of India and Press Association condemn such extreme action of the government, we feel concerned as this step amounts to censorship on media and an attack on the freedom of the press, especially when the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are just a few days away,” PCI and PA said in a statement on April 13.
Notably, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has directed YouTube to block the channels of ‘Bolta Hindustan’ which has 3 lakh subscribers and ‘National Dastak’ which has 94.2 lakh subscribers.
YouTube has highlighted in the mails sent to these small media startups that the blocking requests it had received from MIB invoked 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.
Further, the PCI and PA took note of other recent instances “tantamount to censorship”.
Two creators — Mehgnad and independent journalist Sohit Mishra — have received notices for demonetisation for hosting videos pertaining to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
Also read: ‘Bolta Hindustan Targeted For Speaking Truth’: Why A Media Startup Is Facing MIB’s Wrath
“These two journalists were merely addressing various concerns surrounding EVMs and VVPAT at a time when India is headed for crucial Lok Sabha elections. Even the Supreme Court is seized of the EVM and VVPAT issue and has issued notices to the government,” PCI and PA said.
Recently, the social media handles of several independent journalists reporting on farmers protest were unblocked after remaining inaccessible for more than two months, the press associations noted.
“Such opaque directions and orders issued by various departments of the government to take down or block content without giving opportunity to the affected parties to defend themselves tantamount to censorship,” PCI and PA said.
The associations added: “Information and Broadcasting ministry, headed by Anurag Singh Thakur, must disclose the reason behind such draconian orders of blocking YouTube channels. We demand immediate lifting of this blockade.”
