Cong accuses Modi of muzzling press freedom as CM

In 2006, the editor, circulation manager and a computer manager of a newspaper in Surat were arrested on charges of sedition after it published an article on the state government’s mismanagement in releasing waters from the Ukai dam, leading to flood in Surat. The editor was released after 39 days in jail after he apologised, said Sibal.

In 2004, two editors from Bhavnagar and Rajkot were charged with sedition and arrested. In another instance, a senior reporter of a national Hindi news channel was charged with sedition charges in 2003 after his report alleged that the government neglected the rehabilitation of an orphan, who had lost his parents in the 2002 riots. “In 2002, Modi called for a ban on channel Star News, which was highlighting police and state complicity in the communal violence in Gujarat,” Sibal said.

The Union minister said the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate talked about “protecting” media but “does exactly the opposite of whatever he says. He talks of freedom of press but attacks the media.”