Court and Government Orders on Adani-Related Content
Mainstream ‘Godi’ Media vs. India’s ‘Free’ Media
Who Funds Independent Journalists in India?
The Newsclick Scandal and Allegations of Foreign Funding
Justice Katju’s Call for Investigation of ‘Free’ Media
Justice Markandey Katju questions India’s ‘free’ media amid government and court orders to remove Adani-related content. He highlights suspicions of funding from businessmen and foreign powers, urging an investigation into allegedly independent journalists.
The Adani order and our 'free' media
By Justice Markandey Katju
These days, many journalists claiming to belong to India's 'free' media are raising a big hue and cry over the recent court and government order asking them to remove contents related to the Indian businessman Adani from their youtube shows and websites. They complain that this is a direct violation of the freedom of the media, an illegal 'John Doe' gag order.
No doubt the mainstream 'godi' media in India is largely sold out. But I often wonder who finances the 'free' and 'liberal' journalists of India, who run their own websites and youtube channels, and who, professing to be independent, often criticize the BJP and Prime Minister Modi ?
I am no supporter of the BJP or Modi. But I have a lurking suspicion in my mind.
Big businessmen and foreign powers usually keep their eggs in several baskets. They finance and support the ruling party, but they also finance and support the opposition, thinking that one day the opposition party may come to power, and so they must be kept happy too.
Similarly, they give money and support to the godi media, but they also do the same for the 'liberal' and purportedly 'free' media. A proof of this was the scandal in 2023 over the 'free' media organization Newsclick and a host of 'free' Indian journalists associated with it, who were alleged to have been receiving huge money from China.
I am all for media freedom, but am no supporter of journalists who may be secretly receiving funds from businessmen or foreign countries to push the latters' agendas. A thorough investigation of such allegedly 'free' journalists in India is therefore called for. For too long have these phonies been masquerading as 'independent', and the time has come to tear their masks off, and reveal them to the public for what they really are.
