The Tamil news magazine Vikatan issued a statement on social media denouncing the blocking of its website by the Indian government following the publication of this illustration on the cover of its magazine Vikatan Plus on 10 February. Chronology of the blockade.
The image, by cartoonist Hasif Khan, shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in chains next to US President Donald Trump.
The cartoon is a criticism of Narendra Modi's diplomatic management that has led to the expulsions of Indian nationals from the United States. Some of the expelled citizens have claimed that they were shackled before being put on the plane that would take them back.
The cartoon was criticised by supporters of the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the party's leader in the state of Tamil Nadu, K. Annamalai, said on social media that he had complained about the publication of the cartoon to the Press Council of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Commerce. He also accused the magazine of being a "mouthpiece of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party" in power in the state of Tamil Nadu.
On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we have submitted two separate representations today: one to the Chairperson of the Press Council of India and another to our Hon MoS Thiru @Murugan_MoS avl, seeking prompt action against Vikatan magazine for being a mouthpiece of the DMK and for... pic.twitter.com/1PZjr9CClC
- K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 15, 2025
M.K.Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and a member of the DMK, condemned the blocking of the magazine's website by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and stated in X that"shutting down the media to prevent expression of views is not good for democracy and that this is an example of the fascist nature of the BJP".
The BJP is reportedly relying on Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows the government to"block access to information to protect national security and friendly relations with foreign countries".
The author of the cartoon, newspaper cartoonist Hasif Khan, claimed to be a victim of harassment on social media by political parties. This is not the first time he has been attacked for a cartoon against the country's leaders.
On 16 February, the magazine received official notification from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that the inter-departmental committee under the Information Technology Act would investigate the blocking of the cartoon. In an interview, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan stated that legal action had been taken.
In reaction to the censorship of Vikatan magazine, journalists demonstrated on 18 February 2025 in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) to express their solidarity with the medium. Dozens of journalists and officers of the Chennai Press Club protested against the Union Government of India's attacks on the Tamil-language magazine.
Following the blockade, Ananda Vikatan reacted on X: "Since a century, Vikatan has always stood for freedom of expression. We have always operated with freedom of expression at the forefront and will continue to do so. If the website has indeed been blocked by the central government because of this cover image, we would like to make it clear that we will deal with the situation through legal channels'.
We will stand strong in defense of freedom of expression...
- விகடன் (@vikatan) February 15, 2025
For nearly a century, Vikatan has stood firmly in support of freedom of expression. We have always operated with the principle of upholding free speech and will continue to do so. We are still trying to ascertain the... pic.twitter.com/cjiq1YNEOU
For its part, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) issued a statement denouncing the blocking of the magazine's website as a"blatant case of overreach" that"does no good to India's democratic traditions".
As reported by Cartooning for Peace on 26 February, the website of the magazine Vikatan was still blocked, noting that, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), under Narendra Modi, a set of laws has been put in place that give the government excessive power to regulate the media, censor information and silence dissenting voices.
They also take the opportunity to rescue a text by Kak, President of Cartooning for Peace, from November 2023, which warned that:"Embarked on a mad rush for nationalism, based on Hindu fundamentalist currents, and for control of the mainstream media, Narendra Modi and his cronies have joined the family of avowed censors. The country has fallen to 161st out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, and cartoonists find themselves surrounded by repressive measures and hordes on social media, coordinated by a government well versed in the good use of digital harassment".
The blocking of Vikatan magazine comes in a country where internet media remains the main source of information for the public.
In recent years, a significant number of online media have been subject to restrictions, in particular by having their Facebook pages or websites blocked at the request of public authorities. This does not only affect the media, content creators are also targeted by censors. The Indian authorities also use Internet blackouts as a means of repression, as well as censorship of audiovisual works accompanied by arrests.
Humour in trouble, a collection of cases
Cases of cartoonists who have had problems of some importance because of their cartoons or satirical illustrations. There are also some stories of other people who, without being cartoonists, have got into trouble for sharing them.
