After Doctors, Now Journalists Face Hindutva Onslaught

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Hindutva-led Indian government has now extended its crackdown from doctors to journalists. This attack on the press follows a similar effort against medical professionals and signals a growing pattern of silencing dissent under the pretext of national security. On November 20, Indian authorities raided the Jammu office of Kashmir Times, a well-established newspaper. They claimed to have found dangerous materials, including AK-47 cartridges, and charged the newspaper’s Executive Editor, Anuradha Bhasin, with promoting anti-India activities. This action is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to suppress free speech and eliminate critical voices.

♦ Targeting Journalists for Speaking Truth
The Modi regime is using national security as a shield to stifle any media that dares to report critically.
♦ Suppression of Free Press in Jammu and Kashmir
Journalists, like doctors before them, are now being criminalized for their roles in exposing the truth.
♦ The Modi Government’s Growing Intolerance
The attack on journalists is just one part of a wider crackdown on all professionals who challenge the government’s narrative.

Hindutva’s Systematic Attack on Professionals

The recent crackdown on Kashmir Times and the earlier attacks on medical professionals represent a coordinated effort to intimidate and silence any profession capable of challenging the state’s narrative. This assault on journalists shows the Modi government’s broader agenda to suppress any form of dissent, turning India into a place where truth is criminalized. The government seeks to erase independent voices, turning professionals from active critics into silent subjects of the state’s propaganda.

♦ Erasing Dissent in Professional Sectors
Both doctors and journalists are facing similar persecution, with their ability to act as independent professionals severely restricted.
♦ Targeting Professional Integrity for Political Gain
By suppressing critical sectors, the regime ensures that no one can challenge its actions or policies.
♦ Criminalizing Journalism and Medicine
The government is turning journalism and medicine into criminal acts, silencing those who dare to expose the truth.

National Security Laws as Tools of Repression

The use of national security laws to target journalists exposes the Modi government’s authoritarian tendencies. By framing journalists like Anuradha Bhasin as threats to national security, the regime is attempting to redefine the media’s role as one of compliance, rather than accountability. These laws, originally intended to protect the nation, are now being wielded as tools to silence truth-tellers and erase inconvenient facts from public discourse.

♦ Weaponizing Security Laws Against Professionals
National security laws are being used not for genuine protection but to target anyone who speaks out.
♦ Criminalizing Free Press
Independent reporting is now criminalized, as journalists are prosecuted for doing their jobs.
♦ Undermining the Role of Journalism
The government’s actions have undermined the essential role of journalism in holding power accountable.

Hindutva’s War on Civil Society in Kashmir

The Modi government’s ongoing crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir is not just about law and order; it is a direct assault on civil society. By targeting professionals—first doctors and now journalists—it aims to dismantle any space where dissent can exist. This strategy of intimidation and repression is not about protecting the nation; it is about consolidating power and rewriting the history of Kashmir to fit the government’s narrative.

♦ Silencing Civil Society
The government’s actions are systematically removing independent voices from the public discourse.
♦ A Government Intent on Controlling Narratives
The crackdown shows a clear intent to control all narratives, suppressing truth in favor of a government-controlled version of reality.
♦ Rewriting Kashmir’s History
By erasing critical voices, the government aims to rewrite the history of Kashmir and cement its occupation.

Global Condemnation of India’s Press Crackdown

India’s reputation as the world’s largest democracy is now under serious threat. The international community has condemned the Modi government’s actions, particularly its attacks on press freedom. Human rights organizations and foreign governments are speaking out against the increasing persecution of journalists in Kashmir. The relentless suppression of free expression, especially in occupied Kashmir, is attracting global attention, and India’s actions are drawing sharp criticism for undermining its democratic ideals.

♦ Global Human Rights Criticism
International bodies are condemning India’s crackdown on journalists, urging the government to respect press freedom.
♦ Damaging India’s Image on the World Stage
India’s global reputation as a democratic country is suffering due to its treatment of the press.
♦ International Pressure to Uphold Freedom of Expression
The international community must hold India accountable for violating the basic principles of free speech.

Press Freedom in IIOJk under Attack

The ongoing repression in Jammu and Kashmir is a stark reminder of the Modi government’s disregard for democratic values. By targeting journalists, the government is undermining the very foundations of a free society. The international community must stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir and demand an end to this authoritarian assault. The right to free expression, including the freedom of the press, is non-negotiable and must be defended at all costs.

♦ A Call for Global Action
The international community must act to protect journalists and demand accountability from the Indian government.
♦ Restoring Freedom of the Press
India must reaffirm its commitment to press freedom and protect journalists from intimidation and violence.
♦ Standing with Kashmir’s Journalists
The global community must ensure that Kashmir’s journalists are able to work freely, without fear of reprisal.