Cites India’s continued poor ranking globally in media freedom
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 30
Media freedom in India is progressively declining despite being a democracy, according to the Indian Youth Congress (IYC). The IYC is taking its Samvidhan Leadership Programme (SLP) across the country as a counter measure, the IYC National Media Panelist MS Abhijit told a press conference at the Congress Bhavan, Dimapur, on April 30. He cited “World level indices,” which pointed to India facing a “big threat in media freedom” and what he termed as the suppression of traditional news outlets.
According to him, the traditional media in the country frequently faces coercion from governments, resulting in the suppression of local realities and anti-incumbency issues. He alleged that journalists reporting facts are regularly challenged with legal cases and physical threats, citing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh as an example.
He said that the Samvidhan Leadership Programme seeks to empower independent YouTubers, social media influencers, and local news channels to function as “digital leaders” who can raise local issues without fear of the state machinery. “We need digital leaders who can be on the ground, understand the ground reality of the things and speak for the people,” Abhijit said.
Under this initiative, he said that the IYC will offer participants technical training in content creation and maximising the reach of their reports. Additionally, the party's legal cell will provide legal representation to creators and reporters facing state retaliation or legal challenges for their work.
Addressing queries from the media on whether the programme is a disguised political membership drive, Abhijit distinguished it from party-specific recruitment initiatives like the National Talent Hunt. He clarified that participants are not obligated to join the Congress or endorse its political ideologies.
“We don't need such kind of inclination, obligation or liability from the side of any media persons. All we need them is to report what is the truth,” he said.
Abhijit added that the IYC intends to act as a watchdog for democracy and is prepared to extend legal and technical support to individuals reporting factual news, even if the coverage is critical of states governed by the INDIA opposition bloc. He said that interested creators can apply for the programme through an online form.
