The Crossbill Team
The website of Tamil weekly Vikatan was reportedly inaccessible on Saturday (February 15), just hours after Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai announced that the party had lodged a complaint with the Press Council of India (PCI) and the Union government over a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a late-night statement on social media, Vikatan acknowledged reports of its website being blocked but stated that it had not received any official communication from the Centre.
Reaffirming its commitment to press freedom, the publication declared, “Vikatan has stood in support of freedom of expression for a century. In case the site has been blocked by the centre because of the cartoon, we will fight it legally.”
The controversy arose after Vikatan published a digital cartoon on February 13, portraying PM Modi in handcuffs alongside former US President Donald Trump. The illustration was a critique of the recent deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US in handcuffs, a move that has sparked widespread outrage.
The cartoon drew strong reactions from BJP supporters, with Annamalai accusing Vikatan of attempting to malign the Prime Minister’s diplomatic visit to the US and appease the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu. His complaint urged the PCI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take action, arguing that the depiction violated journalistic ethics.
The blocking of Vikatan’s website has triggered condemnation from journalist bodies, political parties, and civil rights organisations, who see it as a worrying instance of state censorship.
The Chennai Press Club denounced the move, pledging support to Vikatan. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a Tamil Nadu-based political party, called the government’s action “fascist” and reflective of its intolerance towards legitimate criticism.
VCK MP D. Ravikumar has written to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking clarification on whether an official blocking order was issued. He demanded that access to Vikatan be restored if blocked and that the government strictly adhere to Section 69A of the IT Act, which mandates due process, including a written explanation and the right to appeal. Ravikumar further called for transparency in government-imposed restrictions, urging that blocking orders be made public with necessary redactions.
Critics argue that the alleged intervention of a BJP leader in restricting Vikatan’s digital presence highlights a troubling nexus between political influence and state power. Observers warn that such actions, carried out through “extra-constitutional channels,” set a dangerous precedent for press freedom in India.
In the wake of mounting outrage, journalist unions, media rights groups, and political leaders have called for the immediate restoration of Vikatan’s website, demanding that the government ensure media independence and freedom of expression.
In a late-night statement on social media, Vikatan acknowledged reports of its website being blocked but stated that it had not received any official communication from the Centre.
Reaffirming its commitment to press freedom, the publication declared, “Vikatan has stood in support of freedom of expression for a century. In case the site has been blocked by the centre because of the cartoon, we will fight it legally.”
The controversy arose after Vikatan published a digital cartoon on February 13, portraying PM Modi in handcuffs alongside former US President Donald Trump. The illustration was a critique of the recent deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US in handcuffs, a move that has sparked widespread outrage.
The cartoon drew strong reactions from BJP supporters, with Annamalai accusing Vikatan of attempting to malign the Prime Minister’s diplomatic visit to the US and appease the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu. His complaint urged the PCI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take action, arguing that the depiction violated journalistic ethics.
The blocking of Vikatan’s website has triggered condemnation from journalist bodies, political parties, and civil rights organisations, who see it as a worrying instance of state censorship.
The Chennai Press Club denounced the move, pledging support to Vikatan. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a Tamil Nadu-based political party, called the government’s action “fascist” and reflective of its intolerance towards legitimate criticism.
VCK MP D. Ravikumar has written to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking clarification on whether an official blocking order was issued. He demanded that access to Vikatan be restored if blocked and that the government strictly adhere to Section 69A of the IT Act, which mandates due process, including a written explanation and the right to appeal. Ravikumar further called for transparency in government-imposed restrictions, urging that blocking orders be made public with necessary redactions.
Critics argue that the alleged intervention of a BJP leader in restricting Vikatan’s digital presence highlights a troubling nexus between political influence and state power. Observers warn that such actions, carried out through “extra-constitutional channels,” set a dangerous precedent for press freedom in India.
In the wake of mounting outrage, journalist unions, media rights groups, and political leaders have called for the immediate restoration of Vikatan’s website, demanding that the government ensure media independence and freedom of expression.
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