‘Blocking’ of Vikatan website: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin condemns act; alleges it’s an example of fascist nature of BJP government

Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin condemns blocking of Vikatan website for publishing cartoon critical of PM Modi.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday (February 16, 2024) condemned the reported blocking of the website of Tamil media house ‘Vikatan’. The magazine in its ‘Vikatan Plus’ published a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with his hands and legs chained, in the company of U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a social media post, Mr. Stalin said: “It is not fitting for a democracy to block the media over their opinions. It is only another example of fascist nature of the BJP government.” Mr. Stalin further sought action against the blocking of the website. “Vikatan has been in the journalism industry for about a century,” he said.

Madras High Court directs publishers of Junior Vikatan to pay ₹25 lakh compensation to DMK leader T.R. Baalu

On February 10, 2025, Vikatan Plus, the digital magazine of Vikatan had recently published a cover cartoon over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported “silence” over the handcuffing of several Indians who were deported from the U.S. While many BJP supporters criticised it, State unit president K. Annamalai had lodged a complaint with the Central Government, the Vikatan Group said in a social media post.

“In this situation, several readers have reported that they are unable to access the Vikatan website. However, there has been no official confirmation from government sources about the website being blocked,” the post by Vikatan said.

Vikatan further said: “For nearly a century, Vikatan has stood firmly in support of freedom of expression. We have always operated with the principle of upholding free speech and will continue to do so.” It said it was still trying to ascertain the reasons behind the blocking of its website and was in the process of taking up the matter with the Ministry.