In Modi’s India, Journalists Face Jail or Silence

A new episode of Making Peace Visible highlights the erosion of democratic freedoms in India and the dangerous reality for independent journalists under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Press Under Pressure

According to reporting by Suchitra Vijayan, more than 75% of India’s news organizations are now owned by just four or five corporations, all led by allies of Modi. This concentration of ownership has reshaped the media landscape into one that largely aligns with the government’s agenda. Journalists who dare to criticize the government face harassment, detention, imprisonment, or even assassination.

About the Speaker

Suchitra Vijayan is a journalist, attorney, and author of How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? Voices of Indian Political Prisoners (co-authored with Francesca Recchia) and Midnight’s Borders. She is the founder and executive director of The Polis Project, an independent journalism and research organization documenting authoritarianism and state oppression. Raised in Chennai, India, Vijayan now lives in New York City.

Her reporting draws attention to regions like Kashmir, where the government has systematically targeted the free press.

Listen and Learn More

This episode, first published in November 2023, offers a stark warning about the fragility of press freedom, not just in India but globally.

Listen to the episode and explore further here: Making Peace Visible – Suchitra Vijayan