India is Crushing Dissent Through Media Control in IIOJK: President PDP

Silencing the press, India tightens its grip on IIOJK’s media through financial blackmail and political control.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has condemned the deliberate use of government advertisements to suppress press freedom in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). She exposed the Information Department’s ongoing tactic of withholding ads from most local outlets, even three months after Omar Abdullah’s government assumed office. Mehbooba also pointed to delays in renewing press accreditations, further curbing journalistic freedom.

In a social media post, Mehbooba Mufti demanded accountability from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging him to tackle these manipulative policies that undermine a free press. She emphasized that despite the promises of a new administration, the stranglehold on media remains intact.

The Indian government’s manipulation of advertisements as a tool to suppress dissenting voices in IIOJK is no secret. Rights groups and media watchdogs have repeatedly criticized this policy, which gained momentum after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019. Newspapers that refused to echo pro-government narratives saw their financial lifelines cut, driving many to the brink of closure.

Analysts argue that this ad policy serves a dual purpose. It systematically cripples publications that criticize Indian policies while rewarding those that align with the official narrative. This blatant attempt to control public discourse leaves IIOJK’s press landscape fragile and compromised. Many publications have succumbed, softening their editorial stance to survive or shutting down altogether.

In December, Omar Abdullah convened a meeting to discuss revisions to the advertisement policy. Yet Mehbooba’s concerns reveal the enduring reality that promises of fairness are mere facades. Real power lies not with the elected administration but with Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, reducing the local government to a powerless intermediary.

The PDP President’s call to action highlights the urgent need for transparency and press freedom in IIOJK. The current situation reflects India’s wider strategy of silencing dissent and reshaping narratives to consolidate its grip on the occupied region.