New Delhi: Members of the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) staged a protest outside Kerala House on Wednesday, condemning what they called the Assam government’s “anti-journalist policies.” The demonstration, later moving towards Jantar Mantar, highlighted growing concern over shrinking press freedoms in the country.
The protest followed criminal cases filed by the Guwahati Crime Branch against senior journalists Siddharth Varadarajan, Karan Thapar, and Abhisar Sharma. Protesters demanded the immediate withdrawal of these cases, calling them an attack on both the freedom of the press and constitutional rights. DUJ President Sujata Madhok told the gathering that this was not about individuals but about the right of every journalist to hold those in power accountable. Senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty added that the charges were flimsy and politically motivated, warning that independent journalism is under threat.
Varadarajan and Thapar were named in FIR No. 03/2025, accusing them under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for publishing 14 interviews and articles alleged to undermine the country’s sovereignty. They pointed out that the FIR has not been uploaded on the Assam Police portal, in violation of a Supreme Court directive requiring all FIRs to be made public within 24 hours.
Abhisar Sharma faces separate charges under Sections 152, 196, and 197 for a video criticizing Assam’s Chief Minister and ridiculing the idea of Ram Rajya. Rights advocates say these cases are part of a larger trend of criminalizing journalism, especially when it questions ruling authorities.
For the Muslim community, the developments are significant. Journalists who highlight communal politics are increasingly being targeted, raising fears that independent voices speaking against Islamophobia could also face similar harassment. The crackdown in Assam is seen as a test case for press freedom in India, with implications for all marginalized groups seeking fair representation.
