N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group, speaking at the concluding session of Peruma Talks at Pinarayi in Kannur on Sunday.
The Central government has launched systematic assaults on freedom of expression, press independence and civil liberties, N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group, has said.
Speaking at the concluding session of Peruma Talks at Pinarayi on Sunday, Mr. Ram accused the Union government of ‘weaponising’ anti- terror, sedition, and other draconian laws to incarcerate journalists, students, human rights and civil rights activists, and critics of government, often denying them bail or trial for extended periods.
“Since 2014, India has seen a consistent decline in global press freedom ranking. In the latest index, it stands at 159 out of 180 countries and territories,” Mr. Ram said referring to the annual World Press Freedom Index.
“Though the government disputes these ranking, it has failed to provide a cogent explanation. The facts point to a grim scenario,” he added.
He alleged that the government had “almost certainly deployed the Israeli military grade spyware Pegasus for illegal surveillance on journalists, politicians, civil society members and others.” Such surveillance was a gross violation of democratic norms, he noted.
Highlighting the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, Mr. Ram said these were part of a concerted effort to police and censor the internet, digital news providers, social media and streaming platforms.
“This crackdown comes at a time when print journalism is declining and many talented journalists, due to economic hardships and repression, have turned to YouTube and other platforms to publish their work. Now even those platforms are being targeted through new laws,” he said.
Published – April 14, 2025 01:35 am IST
