The Indian constitution supposedly guarantees the freedom of speech and press. However, since the television station, Doordarshan, and the radio station, Akashwani, are directly controlled and operated by the government, they are subject to decisions by the regime as to what will be broadcast and in what manner. Since 64% of all Indians are illiterate, the impact of governmental control of these media outlets is magnified. Furthermore, some Indian newspapers are owned outright by ‘the government. (I have been informed that those that are independent are required to obtain licenses from the federal government in order to purchase paper and survive mostly through revenue received from government advertising). As a result, reporting has been quite selective, especially in regard to events related to the assault on the Golden Temple, and the government uses its influence over the media to promote Gandhi’s Congress party at election time.
Censorship and government influence over the media is not limited to radio, television and newspapers. The book Report to the Nation: Oppression in Punjab, published by Citizens for Democracy, has been banned in India. This report, released in September of 1984, documented government atrocities during the Golden Temple attack The book was immediately banned, its publisher was arrested and all available copies were confiscated and destroyed. Another 1984 report “Who Are the Guilty”? Published jointly by the People’s Union for Democratic Rights and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, was also suppressed. The reports printer was harassed. 7,000 copies of the Punjabi translation were confiscated by state police and a case was filed against the translator for “provoking communal hostilities”.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 26, 1987
