Tamil Nadu’s renowned media house, Vikatan, has long been a champion of free speech, upholding the values of press freedom for nearly a century. However, in a concerning development, the media house has alleged that its website was blocked on February 15, 2025, following the publication of a controversial cartoon in its digital magazine, Vikatan Plus.

Background of the Incident

On February 10, 2025, Vikatan Plus published a cover cartoon highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the handcuffing of Indian immigrants deported from the U.S. The image depicted PM Modi with his hands chained, sitting beside U.S. President Donald Trump, criticizing his inaction on the issue. This triggered backlash from BJP supporters, and Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai lodged a complaint against Vikatan with the Press Council of India and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

Blocking of Vikatan’s Website

Shortly after the complaint, Vikatan reported that its website became inaccessible to users in various locations. However, the central government has not issued any official statement confirming or denying the blocking of the website. BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit accused Vikatan of being a DMK mouthpiece and demanded action against it for publishing allegedly offensive content.

Press Freedom Under Attack?

Vikatan has firmly defended its editorial stance, stating that blocking a media website without official notification is an attack on press freedom. The issue has sparked concerns over the right to free speech, which is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. This fundamental right encompasses:

1. The right to hold opinions without interference
2. The right to access information
3. The right to impart information and ideas freely

Vikatan's case raises crucial questions about media censorship, government intervention, and the shrinking space for critical journalism in India. If media outlets face punitive action for expressing opinions, it could set a dangerous precedent, threatening democracy and press independence.

Appeal:
We urge the Hon’ble Commission to immediately intervene in this matter in protecting the freedom of press and safeguarding the democratic principles of our nation.  We also urge the Hon’ble Commission to immediately take necessary steps and:

To direct the Director General of Investigation of the NHRC to initiate a transparent, independent inquiry and investigate any actions that may have been taken to suppress or curtail the freedom of expression in response to the publication of this cartoon and submit the report to NHRC.