Vikatan To Take Legal Route Against Centre's Ban
Chennai-based media house Vikatan is preparing to challenge the central government’s decision to block its website, citing a violation of freedom of expression. The publication has stated that it is consulting legal experts to determine the next steps and is committed to restoring access through legal means.
According to Vikatan, its website was blocked on 15 February by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting after publishing a cartoon. The media house claims it was not given any prior notification before the ban was imposed. Following an inquiry on 20 February, Vikatan provided an explanation, asserting that the cartoon was an expression of free speech. However, on 25 February, the ministry issued its final order confirming the blockage.
Vikatan has reiterated its commitment to defending press freedom and is now exploring legal avenues to challenge the government’s move. The publication maintains that such restrictions undermine democratic values and the right to free expression.
A cartoon published by the Tamil media group Vikatan resulted in its website being blocked just hours after BJP cadres voiced their protest.
The cartoon, published on February 10, right after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit depicted PM Modi sitting shackled next to U.S. President Donald Trump. According to a statement released on February 16, Vikatan said the cartoon had been “criticized by BJP supporters,” and BJP state president K. Annamalai had reportedly lodged a complaint against Vikatan with the central government.
Commenting on the controversy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin tweeted that blocking media for expressing opinions is detrimental to democracy.
Notably, this is not the first time the government has been accused of targeting the media. In February 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered The Caravan to take down its story Screams from the Army Post within 24 hours under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The story detailed allegations of torture of civilians by the Indian Army in the heavily militarized region of Jammu and Kashmir.
