AGARTALA, Jan 27 (TIWN): From Kashmir to Delhi to Tripura, ways and the weapons, methods of seeding attacks on media to suppress the voice are same. The method is 1) Requesting the Editor not to publish news against the BJP, 2) Offering something, 3) Imposing Criminal cases, 4) Massive campaigning against the channel as fake news producer, 5) Threatening journalists, watchdog, police harassment, calling journalists in PS and to put them under the bar Shutdown media by force or by stopping advertizements. Apart from that, there are more methods and techniques the Modi Govt has adapted to control media. All these, have tarnished India’s image just like other new laws as NRC, CAA are causing. The country which was known for nits unity and leading developing country, today selling all Govt companies and unable to pay MGNREGA mandays.Modi Govt’s unofficial ‘Vernacular Press Act’ has rattled the media houses across the country long back as the Govt successfully snatched Freedom of Speech in last 6 years and took control over a major section of the media voice. In the name of various defamation cases, instead of courts, police officials have been harassing various media persons, police entered in media houses, Govt stopped advertizement and also stopped access, indeed totally changing the press history of the Independent India.

In British India, the Vernacular Press Act (1878) was enacted to curtail the freedom of the Indian press and prevent the expression of criticism toward British policies. 

“India’s television stations dispensed with even basic journalistic rules, as seasoned reporters declared unequivocal allegiances and experienced editors parroted exaggerated claims. Theatrics abounded, with toy-gun totting warrior anchors in army fatigues drumming up an atmosphere of hate and violent jingoism…….. Accuracy, corroboration, and neutrality pipped editorial discretion”, Quartz reported.

Punya Prasun Bajpai to Barkha Dutt,  Rajdeep Sardesai all are figures faced toughtime in the Modi era whereas uncountable journalists were arrested from Delhi to Tripura.

From 2018 to 2019, Tripura’s various media houses were shutdown and few could not and rest survived after surrendering before the Govt. Tripura reportedly is just the mini version of India’s democracy as from UP to Delhi the situations of journalists, media persons remained more or less same. Among the various techniques to shutdown media voices, a daily newspaper Aajkaal was closed by BJP Govt after it stopped giving advertisement to the newspaper. At last this newspaper is closed leaving 33 employees jobless. Total 14 journalists were reporting from Agartala office itself who lost jobs.Earlier, another newspaper ‘Daily Desher Katha’ was shutdowned by the BJP Govt but under Court’s order it restarted but hawkers are not allowed to carry Daily Desher Katha. Various TV channels were too shutdowned by the BJP Govt whereas attacks on various media including Tripurainfoway indeed made already a history in Tripura's democracy butchering. 

There are many media houses that came under BJP's red eyes - 1. Channel DinRaat 2.Tripura Infoway 3. Daily Desher kotha 4.Mrinalini ENN, 5) Akash Tripura, 6) Aajkal etc etc.

However, bootlicker media were existing in the British era as well as now. The freedom of speech thus under the British like Act.