Freeing the Press from the Shackles of a Democ(k)racy

Introduction

May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day, serves as an important reminder to uphold media freedom across the world. The freedom of the press is a foundational pillar of democracy and one that must be protected with such fervency and valour for the existence of nations who perpetuate ideals of democracy under the insidious guise of electoral autocracy pose a great threat to democracies worldwide. Independent media has an integral role to play in upholding democratic institutions and facilitating peace. Freedom of the press, along with all other fundamental human rights, lay a foundation upon which peaceful societies are built. The deterioration of the freedom of expression impacts the rights of individuals, communities, and ultimately, the stability of our nations.

Discussion

Despite once being known as the world’s largest democracy, this title no longer holds true. Freedom House, a reputable democracy assessor, recently downgraded India’s rating from Free to Partly Free due to the erosion of political rights and civil liberties (Freedom House, 2021). This is a notable change of India’s identity on the global scale and validates the reality many citizens and members of the diaspora are already familiar with.

The suppression of independent and critical voices are not episodes of human rights abuses entrenched in Punjab’s history. One does not need to search far in history to see or understand the fragility of press freedom in Punjab. Since 2016, India has accounted for more than half of all documented shutdowns and in the past year, India imposed more internet shutdowns than any other country (AccessNow, 2023). Year after year, the Indian state continues to violate citizens’ access to information and strengthen restrictions on journalists in Punjab. The elected representatives entrusted to advance democracy for the citizenry are the ones now responsible for orchestrating attacks on freedom of speech and press.

Most recently, the world witnessed a harrowing crackdown on civil liberties for millions of people in Punjab with rampant government censorship, internet blackouts and restriction of journalists’ social media accounts amidst a widespread police operation to capture a Sikh activist (Pundir, 2023). The International Federation of Journalists publicly condemned the Indian authorities and sounded the alarm about the significant threat to freedom of press in India, citing the raids on the BBC’s offices in India and the arbitrary detentions of several journalists as examples of egregious attacks on free press (News Laundry, 2023). The dictatorial action against journalists and independent media has created an environment in Punjab that is not conducive to transparency or fair journalism.

Independent media and critical voices of the Indian state routinely face censorship, intimidation, violence, imprisonments, and false arrests in Punjab for working tirelessly to seek out and report on the truth. The socio-political tapestry of Punjab is interwoven with threads of state-sanctioned violence, oppression, and revolution. India’s blatant disregard for civil liberties and independent media should concern us all.

Conclusion

Today and every day, it is important to pay tribute to the journalists in Punjab who risk their lives everyday by defending core democratic ideals that hold governments accountable – freedom of press and speech. The continued degradation of civil liberties in the nation, particularly in Punjab will eventually strangle what is left of India’s democracy. To save Punjab, we must free the press from the shackles of India’s democ(k)cracy and only then will we succeed in unarming governments that weaponize tools of repression and disinformation.

Reference

“Five Years in a Row: India Is 2022’s Biggest Internet Shutdowns Offender.” AccessNow, 28 Feb. 2023, https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/keepiton-internet-shutdowns-2022-india/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2023.

“New Report: The Global Decline in Democracy Has Accelerated.” Freedom House, 3 Mar. 2021, https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-report-global-decline-democracy-has-accelerated.

Pundir, Pallavi. “India Cuts off Internet to 27 Million People to Catch One Man.” VICE, 22 Mar. 2023, https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak3z4e/amritpal-singh-india-khalistan-sikh-punjab.

Team, NL. “’Dire Imposition on Press Freedom’: Global Media Group on ‘Press Blackouts’ in Punjab during Amritpal Search.” Newslaundry, 31 Mar. 2023, https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/03/31/dire-imposition-on-press-freedom-global-media-group-on-press-blackouts-in-punjab-during-amritpal-search.