New Delhi: Every politician wants a free press in a democratic system, but no politician wants any news against them at any cost. This is the sad truth about the Indian press, as India has fallen to 157th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
Their definitions change with time and shift according to the political climate. Every politician views the press through the lens of personal convenience. We can’t see any post of prime minister Narendra Modi on this occasion. However, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulates journalist and writes, “Your impartiality, fearlessness, and independence always work to strengthen democracy and give new direction to society. May you continue to fulfill your responsibilities with complete dedication—best wishes galore.”
Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also not written anything on the ‘World Press Freedom Day’.
Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs, questioned the Indian National Congress’s actions and intentions toward the press, recalling the media suppression during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency era. He writes, “Was Indian democracy thriving when emergency was imposed in 1975, did democracy dance when the Chief Justice of India was appointed, superseding 3 senior most Judges by the Congress govt in 1973? SC termed CBI caged carrot, a Chief Election Commissioner was appointed as Union Minister, Congress MP, Baharul Islam was made High Court Judge, all top Constitution Authorities and Head of Agencies used to be directly appointed by the Congress Govts, unlike through a Committee now. Where were those fake and pseudo secularists when the Preamble of the Constitution of India as gifted by Dr. BR Ambedkar and the founding members was changed by Congress Govt? The sins committed by the Congress Party never ends…. People of India are not fools!”
Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge writes a long post on this occasion. He writes, “On World Press Freedom Day, the nation must confront a stark and undeniable reality. Since 2014, India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index has steadily declined, falling to 157th place, under the BJP regime. A free press, in its truest sense, does not exist to amplify the government’s narrative or conceal its failures. It exists to question authority, to scrutinise power, and to hold those in office accountable.”
Mallikarjun Kharge further writes, “The Sangh Parivar has increasingly weaponised legal frameworks to silence newsrooms. Defamation laws, national security provisions, and sweeping criminal statutes are deployed not as instruments of justice, but as tools of intimidation. Between 2014 and 2020, over 135 journalists were arrested, detained, or interrogated. Between 2014 and 2023, 36 journalists were imprisoned. The scale of persecution has risen sharply, with several journalists booked under draconian laws such as the UAPA.”
On World Press Freedom Day, the nation must confront a stark and undeniable reality. Since 2014, India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index has steadily declined, falling to 157th place, under the BJP regime.
A free press, in its truest sense, does not exist to amplify…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 3, 2026
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini writes, “As the fourth pillar of democracy, journalism plays an extremely important role in raising awareness, empowering, and providing direction to the nation and society.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Arvind Kejriwal says, “The role of the press in democracy is extremely crucial. The responsibility of the press is to question both the government and the opposition with complete impartiality, so that neither the opposition nor the government ever deviates from their path. In a strong democracy, journalists should have the freedom to speak the truth without any fear.”
विश्व प्रेस स्वतंत्रता दिवस की पत्रकार साथियों को शुभकामनाएँ।
लोकतंत्र में प्रेस की भूमिका बहुत ही अहम है। प्रेस की ज़िम्मेदारी है कि वो सत्ता और विपक्ष दोनों से पूरी निष्पक्षता के साथ सवाल करे ताकि विपक्ष और सत्ता दोनों ही अपने रास्ते से कभी न भटकें।
एक मज़बूत लोकतंत्र में…
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 3, 2026
