Media crackdown: India targets dissenting voices
Government measures raise concerns over free speech as dissenting voices face increasing scrutiny
NEW DELHI (MNTV) – The Indian government has unveiled a series of stringent actions aimed at curbing dissent and controlling narratives across social media and news platforms, framing the measures as a response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians were killed by unidentified gunmen.
Human rights experts, however, argue that the moves are part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has issued directives to the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
The committee demands detailed reports on efforts to ban social media platforms and influencers accused of promoting “anti-national sentiments” or inciting unrest.
A memorandum from the committee, citing the Pahalgam incident as a catalyst, requires a formal response by May 8, 2025.
The panel is focused on action taken under the IT Act, 2000, and IT Rules, 2021, to counter narratives it deems harmful to national security.
In parallel, the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) has issued a confidential advisory warning Indian news channels against featuring Pakistani commentators accused of spreading “false propaganda” following the Pahalgam attack.
The advisory, signed by NBDA Secretary General Annie Joseph, highlights concerns raised by the MIB over “anti-India rhetoric” and urges editors to exercise discretion to prevent misuse of their platforms.
Observers note that these coordinated actions — involving both parliamentary oversight and media regulation — mark a significant escalation in the government’s control over public discourse.
Officials justify the measures as vital for maintaining national unity and preventing violence, but free speech advocates warn of potential overreach and the stifling of dissent.
“They want to expel any voice from the media space that does not engage in post-Pahalgam war-mongering,” an Indian human rights expert said to MNTV on the condition of anonymity.
“Labeling voices as ‘anti-national’ creates a dangerous precedent where any opposition to the official narrative is stifled, undermining the very democratic principles India was founded on,” she added.
The crackdown follows earlier bans on Pakistani YouTube channels accused of disseminating propaganda.
Reports suggest that independent local media outlets critical of the government’s narrative on the Pahalgam attack could be next in line for full-blown censorship.
While the government portrays these measures as safeguarding the nation, experts and rights groups argue they are emblematic of a systematic suppression of dissenting views, particularly those challenging the mainstream narrative.
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