Press has a big role to play in democracy and it is called the fourth pillar of democracy which has a vital role in informing the public about a wide range of issues. But the governments across the globe try to clip the wings of the press.
International non-profit organisation Reporters Without Borders that bats for protecting the right to freedom has prepared a list of governments and the heads of the state that is an obstacle to the freedom of the press.
The report was titled, ‘predators of press freedom’ which comprises the list of the governments and leaders that are hindering press freedom and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was also mentioned in the list.
The RSF’s rankings list for the 2021 edition given for the countries on the grounds of freedom enjoyed by the press says, out of the 180 countries, India was given the 142 spot in the list. India’s place in the list is a big concern considering the freedom of the press.
The sensational report of the non-profit organization maintained that Narendra Modi has a good equation with businessmen, who have a hold on the major share of media houses and newspapers.
Tracing the journey of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) observed that he made sure that his speeches and address will be aired on the media constantly.
Stressing about how the journalists are being targeted who are vocal against the government and Narendra Modi, the report mentioned the example of journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was murdered outside her house in 2017.
The likes of journalists Rana Ayyub and Barkha Dutt who are receiving threats for their work were also mentioned in the report.
The list also mentioned the names of Cricketer-turned-politician, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Saudi Arabia prince Mohammed bin Salman, Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing, and North Korea’s supremo Kim Jong-un and others.
The report said that these governments and state heads are censoring the pieces of information that appear on media and sending the journalists to jail for their work and launching the violence towards the journalists is also being followed.
