ITANAGAR, 5 Oct: The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) have expressedgrave concern over and strongly condemned the reported restriction of news and video reports relating to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on social media platforms in India.
Over the past few days, several journalists in Arunachal have reported that videos and other journalistic content concerning the SUMP have either become inaccessible in India or access to their accounts/content has been restricted. "In some cases brought to our notice, users attempting to access such material are informed that it has been temporarily restricted pursuant to legal requirements under India's Information Technology Rules," the apex media bodies said, adding that the APC and the APUWJ view these developments with serious alarm.
The SUMP is an issue of immense public importance, involving development, environment, displacement, indigenous rights, national interest and the future of communities along the Siang. At a time when the project is witnessing intense public debate, protests, and dialogue between the government and affected communities, restricting legitimate journalistic reports risks denying citizens information essential for informed public discourse, they said.
"Journalism cannot be treated as an inconvenience merely because reports from the ground are uncomfortable, critical or contrary to an official narrative," they added.
"If any government authority or agency has sought the blocking or restriction of legitimate SUMP-related news reports, the APC and the APUWJ demand immediate disclosure of the legal basis, authority and specific grounds for such action. The government must clarify whether directions have been issued to social media platforms to restrict SUMP-related reports, videos, accounts or other journalistic content," the two bodies said.
The press fraternity cannot accept blanket, opaque or arbitrary restrictions on bona fide journalism. Any attempt to suppress factual ground reports, interviews, protests, public reactions or differing opinions on an issue of such magnitude would have a chilling effect on press freedom and undermine the public's right to know, they said.
"The APC and the APUWJ reiterate that journalists covering SUMP are performing their professional duty. Reporting opposition is not opposing the government. Reporting a protest is not endorsing it. Carrying the government's position does not make a journalist its spokesperson. The duty of the press is to document all sides fairly and fearlessly," they said, and called upon the competent authorities to immediately restore legitimate journalistic content restricted solely in connection with SUMP reporting and provide a clear explanation for every restriction imposed on journalists or news organisations.
"We also urge social media platforms to ensure that legitimate journalism is not indiscriminately caught in content-restriction mechanisms, and that affected journalists are given meaningful avenues for review and appeal," they said.
The APC and the APUWJ said they stand firmly with every journalist carrying out legitimate reporting on the SUMP and other matters of public interest. "Any attempt to intimidate journalists or silence legitimate reporting through unexplained digital restrictions will be challenged collectively through appropriate democratic and legal forums," the media bodies said.
A democracy is strengthened by more information, more scrutiny and more dialogue - not by making news disappear from people's screens, they added.
