Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A Tamil magazine said that its website was blocked after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers raised objections to a critical cartoon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Donald Trump.
On Sunday in a statement, the Magazine named Vikatan said that there are numerous reports stating the its website was blocked and the users also reported that they are not able to access the website.
“There have been numerous reports stating that the Vikatan website has been blocked by the central government. Many users from different locations have reported that they are unable to access the Vikatan website. However, as of now, there has been no official announcement from the central government regarding the blocking of the Vikatan website,” Vikatan said.
However, in the evening on Sunday, Clarion India learned that the website can be accessed, suggesting that it was restored after the move has come under criticism. The cartoon shows that PM Modi is handcuffed and shackled while sitting along US president Donald Trump.
The Magazine said that the cartoon was in response to the silence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the handcuffing and shackling of Indian immigrants deported from the US.
“This cartoon was criticised by BJP supporters and [the] BJP state president. Annamalai reportedly lodged a complaint against Vikatan with the central government. 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. We are still trying to ascertain the reasons behind the blocking of our website, and are in the process of taking up this matter with the ministry,” the statement added.
Condemning the alleged blocking, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin in a post on X, said, “Blocking the media for expressing opinions is not good for democracy! This is an example of the fascist nature of the BJP. I request immediate permission to grant access to the blocked website.”
DMK MP Kanimozhi said “Shutting down the media and stifling the voice of democracy are one thing. The shutdown of the website of the Centenary of Journalism @vikatan is a threat to freedom of expression. The Union Government should immediately allow the blocked website to function. Let us raise a united voice to protect media freedom”.
Earlier on Saturday, K. Annamalai took social media to announce that it has filed a complaint with the government and the Press Council of India against the magazine.
“On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we have submitted two separate representations today: one to the Chairperson of the Press Council of India and another to our Hon MoS Thiru @Murugan_MoS avl, seeking prompt action against Vikatan magazine for being a mouthpiece of the DMK and for publishing offensive and baseless content against our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl,” he said.
