Press Freedom in Peril: Experts Sound Alarm on Media Suppression in India and IIOJK

Srinagar: Political experts have voiced serious concerns over the deteriorating state of press freedom in India and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), a decline that has accelerated since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

According to Kashmir Media Service, analysts point to systematic efforts by the BJP-led government to undermine journalistic independence through censorship, intimidation, and legislative overreach. India’s slide in the World Press Freedom Index reflects these disturbing trends.

“Journalists in India and IIOJK are facing an unprecedented assault on their independence,” said a political analyst. “The use of draconian laws, surveillance, and strategic lawsuits to silence dissent has become commonplace.”

In IIOJK, the suppression of the press has reached critical levels, particularly following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Independent publications face closure, journalists endure harassment, and voices critical of the government are being systematically marginalized. Across India, a growing nexus between BJP-controlled media and RSS-linked corporate ownership is stifling independent journalism.

The Modi government has also enacted controversial legislation expanding surveillance powers and restricting press freedoms. Critics argue these measures are part of a broader strategy to control narratives and suppress dissent.

Experts warn that the erosion of press freedom endangers India’s democratic foundations. They call for international scrutiny and intervention to protect journalists and restore media independence. “A free press is the cornerstone of democracy. The current trajectory threatens not just India but the principles of democracy worldwide,” they concluded.