Opposition Politicians, Journalists' Bodies Condemn Blocking of The Wire's Website, International Media Takes Note

Following the government blocking users' access to the website of The Wire, Communist Party of India general secretary D. Raja has written to Union minister of information and broadcasting, while news bodies Digipub and Chennai Press Club, and opposition politicians have condemned the move.

The Wire has learnt that the block on its website is according to the orders of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Various internet service providers are saying multiple things.

Stalin and Mufti

DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin has noted that the effort to silence the media now harms democracy. On X, he wrote:

"Silencing the media at a critical juncture undermines the spirit of democracy. I hope the Union government reconsiders and lifts the ban on @thewire_in

"Let not press freedom be strangled in the world’s largest democracy."

In times of war it is truth that’s always the first casualty, wrote People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who also cited the move against Sanjay Sharma’s Uttar Pradesh-based 4 PM News.

"[B]oth silenced for speaking the truth. While every nation may engage in some form of war-time propaganda what pliable propaganda driven godi media is doing goes far beyond. It’s not just irresponsible but also dangerous. In such critical times independent & credible platforms like 4 PM News and The Wire play a vital role in informing & shaping public opinion with facts instead of fiction . By banning them we’re not just censoring voices but also hammering the final nail into the coffin of true journalism."

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also extended support to The Wire. In a post on X, Raut wrote "The Wire-OFF; Liar-ON" hinting at misinformation being peddled by pro-government channels like Republic that are freely accessible by the public while others are being censored.

pic.twitter.com/BoJcENMJpN

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) May 9, 2025

Other politicians who spoke up in support of The Wire include Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Sasikanth Senthil.

"This is a great pity. India must allow the free interplay of different voices. That’s one of the things that distinguishes us from our enemies! No Indian site should be banned," Tharoor wrote on X.

Senthil posted official statements from The Wire and Maktoob Media, whose X handle has been withheld in India, and wrote,"Using the crisis as cover, those in power are targeting independent voices while giving a free pass to loyalist media that spreads propaganda. Instead of holding biased outlets accountable for misinformation, they are silencing those who speak the truth!"

Using the crisis as cover, those in power are targeting independent voices while giving a free pass to loyalist media that spreads propaganda. Instead of holding biased outlets accountable for misinformation, they are silencing those who speak the truth! pic.twitter.com/kEdn4giwru

— Sasikanth Senthil (@s_kanth) May 9, 2025

Raja's letter

In his letter to minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, D. Raja has highlighted how misinformation was allowed to run rampant during 'Operation Sindoor'.

I, on behalf of the Communist Party of India, register my deep concern over the inflammatory and misleading content being aired by several television news channels following Operation Sindoor. While the nation stands united against terrorism, we are witnessing a dangerous trend where certain channels are communalising the issue, spreading unverified claims, and promoting war hysteria—without any official confirmation from the Government or Armed Forces.

Raja said that such coverage creates panic and fear. Here, he mentioned that responsible news portals like The Wire have been blocked, in contrast.

Such coverage not only undermines responsible journalism but also poses a direct threat to national cohesion. Warmongering and targeting of communities erode trust, create fear among citizens, and play into the hands of those who seek to destabilize the country. Public anxiety is being inflamed, not addressed. Even public broadcasters have echoed this irresponsible tone, failing the basic duty of informing people with accuracy and dignity. The Armed Forces themselves had to counter claims made by such news channels on many occasions. At the same time, access to responsible news portals like TheWire.in has been blocked.

Raja noted that the CPI rejected attempts to turn the tragedy of Pahalgam into a spectacle of hate and division. "Conflict must not become a tool to distract from facts or delegitimize fellow citizens. The cost of such narratives is paid by ordinary people in the form of insecurity, polarization, and long-term damage to the democratic fabric," he wrote.

He urged for decisive communication from the government.

We urge the Ministry to act decisively against channels and platforms that promote communal hatred and spread falsehoods. Access must be restored to platforms which are responsible and act to maintain national unity. We also call for coordinated and periodic, fact-based briefings from your Ministry, in consultation with the ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, and External Affairs, to counter misinformation and provide the public with credible updates.

Raja added that it is rightly said that truth is the first casualty of war, but "today, truth is being sacrificed even before a war exists—buried under noise, prejudice, and sensationalism."

The airwaves must not become battlegrounds of distortion when the nation needs calm and clarity. We hope this urgent and pressing matter concerning national unity in challenging times will find your immediate attention.

CPI(M), leader condemn move

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also condemned what it has called an "attack on independent journalism."

We condemn the attack on independent journalism.@thewire_in pic.twitter.com/tfbtJSLf82

— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) May 9, 2025

Its leader M.A. Baby has also written against the move on X:

Strongly condemn the censorship of The Wire. When media outlets that are continuously peddling fake news on #OperationSindoor are being allowed to run uninterrupted, credible news portals are being blocked. Such attacks on the freedom of the press are not acceptable.

Digipub statement

DIGIPUB, a group of digital news websites of which The Wire is a member, said that it strongly condemns the blocking of The Wire's website. It said:

DIGIPUB's founding member The Wire has released a statement on Friday, May 9 stating that the access to their website has been blocked by some Internet Service Providers following government orders. One of the ISPs says the block has been done by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the IT Act, 2000.

If the Indian government has indeed blocked access to The Wire, then it is a blatant attack on press freedom. Silencing independent media doesn't protect democracy-it weakens it.

The statement noted that this "is a critical time for the nation and such actions impede rational thinking. The urgency and horrors of battle cannot be used as an excuse to silence independent journalism."

It added that a free media is the best antidote to misinformation and fake news and said:

"We demand the immediate reversal of such censorship, the orders for which have not even been made public. The Indian Government must uphold constitutional values of free speech and restore unrestricted access to independent media democracy cannot survive in silence."

Chennai Press Club statement

The Chennai Press Club also strongly condemned the recent actions by the Union government to block access to the websites and social media accounts of independent media organisations, including The Wire and Maktoob Media.

"These actions, taken without prior notice or transparent explanation, amount to a grave infringement on the constitutional guarantee of press freedom and a worrying sign of escalating censorship."

It said that at a time when the public urgently needs access to accurate, diverse, and independent information – particularly amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan – such arbitrary blocks set a dangerous precedent and suppress voices committed to public interest journalism.

We urge the Government of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to immediately revoke these bans and restore access to the affected media platforms, the press club said, adding that democratic discourse cannot thrive in an environment where critical and alternative narratives are silenced.

"At the same time, we also call upon all media organisations—both national and regional—to exercise utmost responsibility, accuracy, and restraint in their coverage of the current India-Pakistan conflict. Sensationalism, misinformation, or unverified reporting at this sensitive time can inflame public sentiment and compromise national security and harmony."

Kafila's statement

The academics' and thinkers' collective, Kafila, noted that it stands in solidarity with The Wire and calls upon all democratic forces and voices to speak up against censorship, to stay calm and united for peace, and to reject and resist the bloodthirsty politics that has brought the region to the edge of catastrophe.

"We join our voices with other citizens of Southasia calling on both governments to de-escalate tensions, turn decisively towards diplomacy and ensure peace in the region," it said.

‘Dangerous erosion of constitutional rights’: CPI(ML)

In a statement expressing its “deepest concern and strongest condemnation” over the Union government's “arbitrary” blocking of access to The Wire as well as to the X accounts of Maktoob Media and Anuradha Bhasin among others, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation said the actions reflect “a dangerous erosion of democratic freedoms and constitutional rights”.

“At a time when fake news and jingoistic propaganda dominate the mainstream airwaves, it is the voices committed to factual reporting that are being silenced, vilified and attacked,” the party said, also noting with alarm the government's reported orders to withhold over 8,000 X accounts in India.

“The freedom of press and expression cannot be sacrificed at the altar of jingoism,” it added.

Four press bodies condemn crackdown against media

The blocking of The Wire's website “would constitute a grave action against the interests of a free press in India” if it was indeed ordered by the Union government, a joint statement from the Press Club of India, the Indian Women's Press Corps, the Press Association and the Delhi Union of Journalists said.

They also noted the blocking of access to the X accounts of various journalists and news outlets, including the BBC's Urdu service.

“While there is no doubt that the media as a whole has to conduct itself responsibly, the arbitrary blocks on some social media accounts of media-persons and news organisations, the orders for which have not been made public, must be lifted,” the press bodies said.

“Such crackdowns are against the freedom of the press and directly against the interests of the Indian public,” they said, adding that the government must be transparent in its actions and journalists ought to be allowed to do their job without restriction.

International media notes blocking of access to ‘The Wire’, others

Newspapers and broadcasters from abroad have noted The Wire's being blocked in India. Among these international media organisations are the BBC, Deutsche Welle, The Independent, the Washington Post and the New York Times.

They also noted the blocking of other websites and social media accounts run by media houses.

“…With Pakistani media and several other foreign sources banned in India, and now also critical Indian websites like The Wire, it had become a guessing game which of the claims and images on social media were worth repeating,” the New York Times' Alex Travelli wrote.