The website of Vikatan, one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest media houses, has been inaccessible since February 15, following backlash from the BJP over a controversial cartoon featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The illustration, published by Vikatan Plus on February 10, depicted Modi with his hands chained before former U.S. President Donald Trump. It was intended as a critique of the Indian government’s silence on the deportation of undocumented Indian migrants from the United States. Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai accused Vikatan of spreading offensive content and lodged complaints with both the Press Council of India and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. While there has been no official confirmation from the central government regarding the website’s blockade, numerous users have reported being unable to access it.
In response, Vikatan issued a statement reaffirming its dedication to free speech and independent journalism. The publication emphasized that for nearly a century, it has upheld press freedom and will continue to do so despite mounting political pressure. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly condemned the alleged blocking of Vikatan’s website, calling it an attack on democracy and an example of BJP’s “fascist tendencies.” He urged the government to immediately restore access to the site, emphasizing that silencing the media for expressing opinions is detrimental to democratic values. The controversy has reignited debates on press freedom in India, with opposition leaders and journalists raising concerns over increasing government intervention in independent media.
This incident follows a pattern of similar actions taken against critical media outlets. In February 2024, the Union government ordered The Caravan to remove an investigative report on alleged torture by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir under Section 69A of the IT Act. Such actions have raised alarms about press censorship and the shrinking space for dissent in India. With Vikatan nearing its centenary in 2026, the media house’s supporters argue that attempts to silence it only reinforce the need for stronger protections for journalistic freedom in the country.
