Assam CM’s World Press Freedom Day Tweet Spurs Debate on India’s Press Freedom Status
On World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd, global attention turns to the vital role of a free press and the hurdles faced by journalists worldwide.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, joined the discourse by sharing his views on press freedom via social media. He lauded the free press as a cornerstone of democracy, highlighting its pivotal role in modern democratic societies. However, netizens swiftly pointed out India’s press freedom ranking.
Sarma’s tweet sparked a flurry of responses citing India’s placement in the 2024 Press Freedom Index, where it ranks 159th out of 180 countries according to Reporters Without Borders. This position places India below nations like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, raising alarms about the state of press freedom within the country.
Reporters Without Borders labeled India’s press freedom ranking as “unworthy of a democracy,” citing a decline in press freedom scores across the Asia-Pacific region. Countries with stringent media controls such as China, Vietnam, and North Korea ranked at the bottom. Afghanistan, Syria, and Eritrea also faced notable restrictions on press freedom.
The report underscored persistent challenges in ensuring journalists’ safety and freedom across Asia, including countries like Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Cambodia, and the Philippines. This highlights the global struggle for press freedom and underscores the urgent need to protect journalists’ rights and uphold the principles of a free press.
