Journalists stage protest condemning the blocking of Vikatan Plus digital magazine

Chennai Press Club protests government blocking of Vikatan Plus website over political cartoon, sparking concerns over press freedom.

Journalists led by the office-bearers of Chennai Press Club staged a protest here on Tuesday condemning the unilateral action of the Union government which blocked Vikatan Plus, a digital magazine without issuing any notice to the publication after a cartoon was published on the website. The cartoon showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in chains seated next to American President Donald Trump, in a reference to the way illegal immigrants, sent back to India, were treated.

The website of Vikatan Plus, a product of Vikatan group, has been blocked as per orders from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under Information Technology Act since February 15. Initially, many readers/ viewers were not able to access the subscribed content while others had access. Subsequently, it was learnt that the website was blocked for publishing the cartoon which was a political satire.   

After gathering at the Chennai Press Club, journalists from many media houses participated in a protest showing solidarity with Vikatan and raised slogans condemning the unilateral act of the Union government blocking the website without following due process of law. 

Veteran journalist and Director of THG Publishing Private Limited N.Ram said the website was blocked without serving prior notice to the publication. “It is learnt today that the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has blocked the site on emergency grounds. A hearing is scheduled to be held on Thursday. If the matter is dropped after the hearing, it would be good, failing which the issue would have to be taken to court. But I am 100% sure that they would fail if the matter reaches the court as there is a precedent,” he said.

He then recalled the sentence of imprisonment imposed on the former Editor of Ananda Vikatan, S. Balasubramanian, by the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1987 over a House Privilege issue after he refused to apologise for publishing a cartoon on legislators on the magazine cover. Subsequently, the Madras High Court decided in favour of Mr. Balasubramanian and even awarded him a compensation, Mr. Ram pointed out. 

“No one can defend the action...It was done in a surreptitious manner and against natural justice and procedure established by law,” said Mr. Ram. He further stated that it was highly appreciable of the Chief Minister M.K.Stalin to have condemned the blocking of the website immediately on hearing the news.  

M.Gunasekaran, Editor-in Chief of Sun News, said there was nothing new about carrying cartoons on politicians and others as it was being done by the media from time immemorial. The Union government has now used the publication of a cartoon as a weapon to crush the freedom of the press. It is highly condemnable, he added.