New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has celebrated National Press Day by committing his government to "upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms".
The assurance stood out in contrast with concerns expressed by civil society and the Opposition that sections of media had become more pliable than they were even during the Emergency and that those asking unpalatable questions were being branded "anti-national".
"A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy. We are fully committed to upholding freedom of press and expression in all forms," Modi said on Thursday. The statement has been made against the following backdrop:
• India has slipped three notches on the World Press Freedom Index 2017, down to 136 among 180 countries, under "threat from Modi's nationalism".
• The Hindi daily Rajasthan Patrika left the space reserved for its editorial comment blank on Thursday as part of a campaign against the state government's ordinance restricting freedom of the press.
• On the social media, journalists have been threatened and humiliated by people describing themselves as Hindutva advocates and Modi supporters.
• Prime Minister Modi has never addressed a media conference. His predecessor Manmohan Singh's record is only a shade better with three formal media conferences in a decade. But Singh did offer himself for questioning on the return leg of his foreign tours. Modi has stopped having the media accompany the Premier on overseas visits, foreclosing the Q&A sessions.
• Union ministers were deployed to defend BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay, a private citizen, who has filed a criminal defamation case against a news portal.
• On National Press Day, too, Modi maintained his silence on the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bangalore 72 days ago.
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