Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D Raja has written to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressing deep concern over what he termed as “inflammatory and misleading” coverage by several television news channels following Operation Sindoor, alleging that such reporting is communalising a national tragedy and promoting war hysteria.
In a letter dated May 9, Raja said while the country stands united against terrorism, a section of the media is undermining national cohesion by airing unverified claims and inciting hatred without any confirmation from the government or the armed forces.
“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,” Raja said.
He also criticised public broadcasters for allegedly echoing this tone and failing in their duty to present accurate and dignified reporting. Raja pointed out that the armed forces themselves had to counter several claims made by news channels in recent days.
The CPI leader further noted the simultaneous restriction of access to certain independent digital news portals, including The Wire, calling it a “disturbing development” amid what he described as a broader clampdown on responsible journalism.
“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 said.
Raja urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to take immediate action against media outlets promoting communal hatred and misinformation, and called for the restoration of access to news platforms that uphold journalistic integrity.
He also recommended that the government initiate periodic, coordinated, fact-based briefings in consultation with the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, and External Affairs to counter falsehoods and provide credible updates to the public.
“It is rightly said that truth is the first casualty of war. Today, truth is being sacrificed even before a war exists, buried under noise, prejudice, and sensationalism,” Raja wrote, adding that the airwaves must not become “battlegrounds of distortion” at a time when the nation needs calm and clarity.
On May 9, The Wire, a prominent independent digital news platform, announced that its website had been blocked by several Indian Internet Service Providers. The move came a day after social media platform X (formerly Twitter) revealed that the Indian government had directed it to restrict access to the accounts of several users and news outlets amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The Wire called the action arbitrary and a violation of press freedom, vowing to challenge the censorship legally and continue its journalistic work.
