Media: Coverage

The police raids on NewsClick journalists in India are making global headlines, and many activists are worried about the future of free speech in the country. DW talked with journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.

Police in New Delhi have arrested the editor of a news website and one of its administrators after raiding the homes of journalists working for the site, which has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist-led government.

Eminent writers, historians and activists have expressed concern and shock over the raids on the NewsClick website and the arrest of the portal’s editor Prabir Purkayastha and HR head under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has condemned a crackdown on journalists writing for websites considered critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

NewsClick, a defiantly critical news site, has been in the Indian government’s sights over the past few years. But there was little to show after extensive financial probes – until the New York Times published a report which enabled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration to use the press to attack the press.

Delhi Police, in an FIR filed under anti-terror law UAPA against online news portal NewsClick, has alleged that a large amount of funds came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country.

Purkayastha and Chakraborty were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell which had registered an FIR in August under sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code.

Two journalists managed to secure freedom from UAPA, one with an acquittal and the other, a discharge.

FIR, filed 17 Aug under UAPA, says ‘secret inputs’ suggest ‘foreign funds in crores… infused illegally in India by Indian & foreign entities… to threaten unity, integrity, security’.

NewsClick journalists have been accused of undermining the unity and territorial integrity of India, according to Delhi Police special cell's FIR. A total of 46 journalists and contributors to the NewsClick were questioned on Tuesday and their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets were seized for alleged connections to China-linked entities to broadcast Chinese propaganda.