New Delhi, A report from the Free Speech Collective highlights a grim state of freedom of expression in five Indian states heading to polls this November. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana are reported to have experienced increased suppression of dissent and journalistic freedom.
According to the Kashmir Media Service, the Free Speech Collective’s findings draw attention to the hardships faced by journalists, Right to Information (RTI) activists, and ordinary citizens in exercising their freedom of speech in these states. The elections, commencing on November 7, have been marked by similar patterns of censorship and repression across these regions.
Journalists and RTI activists in these states have faced harassment, arrests, and violence over the past half-decade, with many suffering the consequences for confronting corruption or reporting on sensitive subjects. The report emphasizes a culture of intimidation and legal repercussions that has led to widespread self-censorship.
The plight of reporter Jaalam Singh, held for over two months on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) in Madhya Pradesh, serves as a stark illustration of the perils faced by the media. Singh’s ongoing incarceration has notably dampened the journalistic spirit, resulting in a trend away from critical reporting.
The pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, with heightened policing and punitive actions against journalists, such as the destruction of a journalist’s home in Telangana for covering lockdown violations. In Chhattisgarh, despite financial aid to the families of journalists deceased from COVID-19, reporters have been burdened with legal cases for their work on various societal issues.
Despite the existence of a media protection law, legal entanglements continue to trouble journalists like Sunil Namdev and Jitendra Jaiswal, both of whom are embroiled in legal battles for their investigative reporting.
Internet shutdowns have frequently disrupted information flow, despite Supreme Court guidelines, with Rajasthan witnessing 72 such shutdowns, often in response to protests.
In Mizoram, the government and security forces have imposed barriers to news coverage, especially in border areas, affecting the dissemination of information about the adjacent conflict in Manipur.
RTI activists are not exempt from suppression, facing violence for their efforts to uphold transparency, as seen in the murder of Nalla Ramakrishnaiah, a 70-year-old RTI activist from Telangana.
India’s position on global press freedom indices remains low, with its ranking at 161 on the World Press Freedom Index and 11th on the Global Impunity Index 2022 reflecting the perilous conditions for journalists in the country.
The report further notes an uptick in hate speech and communal tensions, alongside mounting restrictions on expression affecting a broad spectrum of society, including artists, academics, and citizens on social media.
The Indian National Congress has pledged to address these issues in its media reform proposals, but the topic of free speech remains marginal in other parties’ agendas.
As the states prepare for elections, the Free Speech Collective’s report serves as a crucial reminder of the necessity to uphold and defend freedom of expression in India.