International media outlets have written a joint letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the government to take steps to enable journalists to carry out their professional duties without fear.
According to international media, two European media outlets have sent a joint letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the government to take immediate steps to ensure that journalists in India do their job honestly without fear to perform.
The letter was written by the International Press Institute in Austria and the International Federation of Journalists in Belgium.
The letter said that dozens of cases have been registered against journalists in different states of India, especially cases of sedition under very strict and black law because of their work.
According to the letter, the health crisis is being used to silence those who have tried to expose the government's failures and shortcomings.
According to the NGO Rights and Risk Analysis Group, various cases were registered against 55 journalists in India between March and May.
The highest number of cases were registered against journalists in Uttar Pradesh, where 11 journalists were also sent to jail. In second place is Jammu and Kashmir where journalists are intimidated the next day. Detained journalists were also subjected to physical violence and threats to destroy their assets.
According to Reporters Without Borders, the state of press freedom in India is deteriorating, with India at 142nd place in the 2020 report on the state of journalism around the world. In terms of press freedom, India is worse off than neighboring Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
