Sun Nov 17 07:42:00 IST 2024: **Veteran Politician Condemns Muzzling of Indian Media on National Press Day**
**Bengaluru, November 17, 2024** – Former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily launched a scathing critique of the Indian media on Saturday, accusing it of succumbing to pressure and self-censorship. Speaking at the National Press Day program in Bengaluru, Moily, a former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, lamented the silencing and even killing of journalists in recent years. He stated that many media outlets and journalists appear to be exhibiting “Stockholm syndrome,” tolerating oppression rather than resisting it.
Moily highlighted numerous attacks, killings, and false accusations targeting journalists, attributing the trend to mounting pressure. He argued that the media’s failure to challenge authority, coupled with its acceptance of restrictions and harassment, amounts to “committing suicide.” This, he said, has contributed to India’s declining ranking in global press freedom indices.
He urged young journalists to boldly question authority, emphasizing their role as the nation’s “ombudsman.” Moily also pointed to a lack of government interaction with the press, depriving media outlets of crucial information.
Echoing Moily’s concerns, Professor A. Narayana of Azim Premji University asserted that while the print medium faces challenges, it is not dying but rather “committing suicide.” He stressed that truthful and unbiased reporting is crucial for media survival and success. The event also featured Hemant Nimbalkar, Commissioner of the Department of Information and Public Relations, who noted the media’s recent dramatic shift from a long history of responsible reporting.
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