Full page ad in Washington Post newspaper questions press freedom in India as Modi visits US
Washington: During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received a grand welcome and is engaging in various activities and meetings with notable figures. However, alongside the warm reception, rights advocates, activists, and critics have voiced their concerns and called on the United States to address issues related to Modi's tenure as Prime Minister.
In a notable display of dissent, trucks in New York City carried screens urging US President Joe Biden to raise crucial questions about recent events in India during his meetings with Modi. These questions revolve around ongoing protests by wrestlers and the detention of activists, including Umar Khalid. The Committee to Protect Journalists and its partners on press freedom issues in India took a significant step by publishing a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post.
The advertisement prominently featured the photographs of six journalists currently detained in India: Aasif Sultan, Gautam Navlakha, Sajad Gul, Fahad Shah, Rupesh Kumar Singh, and Irfan Mehraj. It underscored the dichotomy of India being the world's largest democracy while also being one of the most perilous countries for media professionals. The ad highlighted the increasing threats faced by journalists, including physical violence, harassment, baseless lawsuits, and hate campaigns on social media platforms.
The advertisement called upon leaders worldwide who value democracy to exert pressure on those in power in India, urging them to put an end to the threats against journalists and ensure press freedom.
Adding to the chorus of concerns, a group of 75 Democrats, comprising senators and members of the House of Representatives, wrote a letter to President Biden earlier this week, urging him to address specific issues during his discussions with Prime Minister Modi. The letter called for attention to be given to press freedom, internet access, and religious intolerance in India.
A full-page ad by CPJ and partner organizations in the @washingtonpost on Wednesday highlights the #pressfreedom crisis in #India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the @WhiteHouse.@wppressfreedom @RSF_inter @globalfreemedia @IWMF @JamesFoleyFund pic.twitter.com/nSpVH21NPw
— CPJ Asia (@CPJAsia) June 21, 2023
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
