Veteran journalist Barkha Dutt, who tweeted about being intimidated by BJP members regarding her work on Thursday, has revealed to THE WEEK that the Narendra Modi government has been placing obstacles in her work for several months.
Barkha, who also serves as a contributing editor to THE WEEK, claimed that over the past year, TV channels that had requested her to do shows had backed off as “top leaders of the BJP have a problem” with her and the companies did not want to take a risk.
Barkha claimed that a few months ago, some promoters with a licence to start a TV channel requested her to do consulting work for the project. She alleged some senior BJP leaders then "politely" told her not to get associated with the project. “They [the BJP leaders] said the government will never allow a new channel to come up.” Barkha added the BJP leaders claimed the government could use “any rule” to prevent a new TV channel from coming up.
Barkha alluded to political bias in granting of permissions for TV news channels by pointing out that over the past year-and-a-half, only one channel, which was owned by a BJP MP, was granted permission—that, too within three months. Barkha said, other than the permission for this particular channel, “no other files have moved in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry”.
Barkha claimed on Thursday she was told by a third person that "a section of the BJP" had met the previous day and reportedly decided that “whatever happens, we have to stop Barkha from doing this channel”. Barkha alleged she was told the meeting decided to use “any means available” such as tapping of phones, surveillance, income tax raids or her personal life to smear her and stop her.
Barkha said she decided to break her silence on the issue after knowing about the meeting, which she described as “intimidation and an attempt to silence me”.
“The government is trying to stop me from working,” she said.
Barkha said the Modi government's message was loud and clear: “If you are not with us, we are not going to let you do your job”. Barkha noted the TV domain was one area where the government still had significant authority unlike digital and social media, where its control was limited. Barkha said there was an “environment of fear where unless you are seen as aligned with this government, they will stop you”.